MOSOP urges Buhari to resolve Ogoni conflicts
Speaking at the National Secretariat of MOSOP in Bori, Khana
local government area of Rivers State on Monday, during a meeting of MOSOP faithful
from Yeghe, Zaakpon, Kor, Kaani and Bori communities, President of MOSOP,
Fegalo Nsuke said just as the Nigerian President took a bold step to commence
the Ogoni cleanup which unfortunately has been wrecked by corrupt management,
the Ogoni people were counting on the president to rightly consider our suggestions
on how to address the larger Ogoni problem.
Nsuke said the way to go is to commence with the exoneration
of the nine innocent activists including Ken Saro-Wiwa who were wrongly hanged
by the government on November 10, 1995. The MOSOP president said the goodwill
that will be earned from the exoneration will drive the Ogoni and Nigeria into
the next level to address issues of underdevelopment affecting the Ogoni
people.
"MOSOP will expect the government to accept our
proposals for a pragmatic solution to the Ogoni problem and it is government
responsibility to help the people get out of the painful past especially in our
case where we have been so much abused," Nsuke said
The MOSOP President noted that the way forward was a
reconciliation which should begin by exonerating Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight
others murdered with him on November 10, 1995.
"The exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight is fundamental for us because they were
innocent. Our struggle is for justice and we will not accept a situation where
those who championed the cause of justice for our people are murdered by our
own government and a culpable oil company to silence a simple and just demand
for justice.
“It is important that the Nigerian Government shows its willingness
and commitment to reconciliation and justice for the Ogoni people by accepting
our proposals for the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight others
murdered with him on November 10, 1995 and we can then find justification to
move with that goodwill into discussions on the future of Ogoni and the issues
of Ogoni development.”
Nsuke said MOSOP is very concerned about Ogoni development
which was the primary focus of the struggle and the key intent of drafting the
Ogoni Bill of Rights.
He said, "the Nigerian Government and Shell have both treated the Ogoni very unfairly. We are the most naturally endowed community in Nigeria, we have capacity and can generate more revenue than 20 Nigerian states put together so it is unfair for our resources to make huge budgets for states who bear no pain from the effects of resource exploitation while we, the Ogoni, suffer and die.
"The position of MOSOP is therefore, that justice must
prevail for the Ogoni people and this should begin with the exoneration of the
nine innocent Ogonis including Ken Saro-Wiwa who were executed on November 10,
1995."
The MOSOP President said it was unfortunate that injustice is so prevalent in the country and frustrating efforts to grow and develop as a united country.
He expressed hopes that the Nigerian government will take advantage of the Ogoni initiatives to move the people away from the dark years and get us to start a new beginning.
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