MOSOP gives FG ultimatum to begin Ogoni clean up or face unrest

As a fallout of this year’s anniversary of the Ogoni Martyrs Day, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has given the Federal Government and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) up until November 30, 2018, to fully commence the clean up of the oil impacted sites in Ogoniland or face massive unrest from Ogoni people.

MOSOP president, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, issued the ultimatum at the anniversary which was the 23rd, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend.

Pyagbara said that MOSOP would take to the streets in protest if the clean up exercise did not kick off at the end of November 30, 2018.

The MOSOP president said: “We fear that the manacles and vestiges of discrimination for which these heroes laid down their lives are still very much with us. And that is why I said we still have very challenging days ahead of us.

“My dear brothers, it is on this note that we want to inform the Nigerian government and HYPREP in particular that anything before commencing the mediation effort on ground in Ogonilabd by the end of November, 2018, will not be acceptable by the Ogoni people.”

Pyagbara also used the occasion to call on the Federal Government to honour the Ogoni 9 and other Ogoni martyrs who died in the course of the Ogoni struggle.

He continued: “We wish to use this opportunity to remind the Nigerian government to right the wrongs committed against these our fallen heroes. The process of National healing and reconciliation will not be complete until the Nigerian government clears the names of the Ogoni 9.

“There is no way the promotion of national unity will be complete until the Nigerian government takes the necessary steps to clear the names of the Ogoni 9 because they were unjustly killed. The execution of Ogoni 9 triggered a firestorm of condemnations across the globe.

“The Commonwealth of Nations, of course, suspended Nigeria from that global body. The United Nations passed a resolution in December 1995 on which it condemned the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa and others”.

Speaking also at the occasion, the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, called on the Ogonis to consolidate on the legacies and contributions of late environmental activist, Ken Saro Wiwa, and the Ogoni martyrs.

The Senator said that the Ogoni struggle had witnessed tremendous progress especially with the establishment of HYPREP to carry the Ogoni clean up exercise.

He said: “The name, the memory, and the legacy of Ken Saro Wiwa and the fallen heroes of Ogoni is a veritable foundation on which our future can be built. There is nowhere you will go to in the world today that people recognise you as Ogoni man and they don’t remember somethig about Ogoni.

“It is, therefore, my pleasure, my joy that I am able to stand here today and join MOSOP to remember these people, to remember their contributions because I know that they have not died in vain. I am thankful that we have made substantial progress on the clean up of Ogoniland”.

At the occasion was also the facilitator of the Ogoni Generation Next Project, Mr. Kadilo Kabiri, who called on the Ogonis to use the Ogoni Martyrs Day to unite and demand for political liberation and environmental justice.

“This anniversary affords the present day Ogoni leadership an opportunity to write our history. The coincidence of the forthcoming elections and the ongoing efforts at the Ogoni clean up if cashed upon with unity, patriotism, and love for one another,

and love for Ogoni can enable us to achieve Ogoni clean up and Ogoni political liberation. This will no doubt address two critical issues on the tripod upon which the Ogoni struggle stands,” the facilitator stated.