The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and thirty groups have staged protests in Bori to demand justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, executed in 1995 for their advocacy on environmental stewardship and human rights.
The protesters marched through the streets of Bori, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “No exoneration, no oil resumption in Ogoniland,” “Clear Ken Saro Wiwa Name now,” “No to forceful oil resumption, “We want justice for Ogoni 9,” “Ribadu and Mitee leave Ogoni oil alone,” “Stop the Ogoni genocide.”
They also insisted that for the ongoing plan to resume oil production in Ogoni to succeed, it must be driven by MOSOP Development Programme, the grassroots movement that led the protests that ousted Shell from Ogoni in 1993, demanding fair treatment of the people.
Addressing the protesters at Peace Park in Bori, MOSOP President, Mr. Fegalo Nsuke, emphasized that the organization’s input is crucial for any oil exploration activities to commence in any part of Ogoni without people’s agreed proposed planNsuke declared:We will not accept any decision that is imposed on us without our input. We will resist any attempt to marginalize the people or to ignore our rights.
“We will not be silenced or ignored in the decision-making process. Any attempt to silence us will be resisted lawfully, nonviolently until we win.”
The President further highlighted MOSOP’s pioneering role in the struggle for environmental justice and human rights in Ogoni, saying, “We started this struggle, and we were the first people to demand the return of oil exploration in Ogoni, not the political class.”
He therefore called on President Tinubu to halt the process emanated from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and to initiate a more transparent process that will accommodate the views of the Ogoni people.
Also speaking, President of National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) Barinuazor Emmanuel, reiterated the group’s demands, which include the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa, rather than a pardon, as he was denied a fair hearing by General Sani Abacha.
He appealed to the national security adviser to call the Ogoni political class to order, as they may sabotage the president’s genuine intentions, stressing, “We want the federal government to recognize our rights as Ogoni people and to involve us in the decision-making process regarding oil exploration in our land.”
“Other demands include granting operational licenses to indigenous Ogoni companies to drill oil, unbundling of OML11, and providing compensation to the Ogoni people. We will not accept any decision that is imposed on us without our input. We will resist any attempt to marginalize us or to ignore our rights.”
