MOSOP wants Buhari to appoint a good replacement for Environment Minister
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that only a tested and capable person will be appointed to replace the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed.
President of the foremost Ogoni group, Mr Legborsi Pyagbara, who spoke in an interview with Rhythm 93.7 FM station on Monday in Port Harcourt, showered praises on the out-going minister, who was recently appointed as the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations.
Mr Pyagbara noted that the announcement that the incoming United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has appointed Mohammed to work at the world body was bound to have implications for the implementation of the Ogoni environment clean-up programme.
He lauded the firm commitment of the out-going minister to the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme Report on Ogoniland, adding that her background as a former staff of the UN was an invaluable asset which the Ogonis would miss sorely.
The MOSOP President urged President Buhari to replace her only with a minister that possessed her qualities, especially her passion for the clean-up of the Niger Delta environment.
Meanwhile, MOSOP has condemned the recent upsurge in hostilities in Ogoni communities, calling for an immediate end to conflicts in the area.
A statement by Fegalo Nsuke, Publicity Secretary of the movement, said MOSOP was particularly disturbed by the spate of destruction and killings occasioned by renewed hostilities in Baen and Wiiyaakara communities in Khana local government area as well as Deken, Deeyor, Lewe and Bomu communities in Gokana local government area.
MOSOP called on the Nigerian authorities and the Rivers State Government in particular to take urgent steps to provide security for the residents to forestall further hostilities in these areas and to prevent a degeneration of the situation.
The statement said ”MOSOP further urges the Ogoni Council of Traditional Rulers (COTRA) to deploy all measures including traditional means to restore peace in the affected communities.”
It said:”MOSOP calls for tolerance and cooperation to restore peace in our communities and urges all Ogoni people to take responsibility for the peace and security of their communities, cooperate with the Police authorities, maintain vigilance and report incidences that are capable of jeopardizing public peace to the appropriate authorities.”
