Plan to resume oil production in Ogoni is a plan to kill the Ogoni people
(By Fegalo Nsuke)
The Nigerian state pretends not to know the truth about the pains of the Ogoni people and the
discrimination against the minorities of the Niger Delta whose resources have
funded our federal budgets and supports our predominantly poor states which
cannot survive without federal subventions.
Shell and Nigeria has consciously and completely destroyed
the Niger Delta and particularly Ogoniland. Today, one Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company, NPDC, is
shamelessly making moves to re-enter Ogoniland for oil. It is ridiculous to
imagine that despite repeated warnings and a rejection of this pest-like
company, the NPDC continuous its corrupt traits for which it is widely known
and want to get the Ogoni oil through the back-door.
The NPDC is Nigeria's oil drilling company, it epitomizes
the true attitude of the Nigerian state towards the Ogoni people. Shamelessly
and callously looking at the face of a dying population and telling them
"we will kill you and take your oil". And as usual, Nigeria will
certainly be willing to provide its security forces to shoot and kill any
resistance just as they have always done.
It is quite disturbing to see our country not bother about
its mighty army showing its strength against a small and peaceful struggle like
that of the Ogoni while the government offers amnesty to Niger Delta civilians
who managed to gain access to arms and will perpetually look for negotiators
with the Boko Haram insurgents. I see it as a national shame to send our well
trained army against a peaceful and civil protest.
All Nigeria care about is the Ogoni oil. They want it at all
cost and will kill for it like we saw in 1995 with the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa
and 8 others. For over 50 years, they have shown this brutal attitude towards
the oil producing Niger Delta and that attitude has not changed.
On Sunday, July 16, 2017, I was in Biara in Gokana local
government area where reports of pipe laying activities had surfaced. One
Kagbara (full name withheld) came with the complaint. We confirmed the massive
land grading in parts of Biara in Gokana local government area. In Nigeria, I
see a government that should promote human dignity, care and protect becoming
so oppressive acting in utter disregard to the sensitivities of its own people.
But Nigeria, Shell or the NPDC can be sure that Ogoni will
not surrender to this harassment and intimidation. We will all match down to
the oil fields to protest this unending abuse and disregard for our rejection
of all forms of oil production in Ogoniland for now.
Unfortunately, our leaders do not seem to bother about our
dignity and the need to protect the integrity of our armed forces. They
continue to abuse and ridicule our soldiers.
As the struggle for a better society continues, the current
moves regarding the un-permitted invasion of parts of Ogoniland should be seen
as an invitation for the people to fight for what belongs to them. As a people,
we cannot be silent in the face of this affront.
Shell and her ally, the NPDC are at it again and let it be
known that another round of bloodshed is about to take place in Ogoniland
because as a people, we are bound to say "NO" to any form of oil
production activity in Ogoniland.
*The writer, Fegalo Nsuke is the Publicity Secretary of The
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP. He wrote from Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Comments
Post a Comment