Ogoni Protesters Demand Transparency in Oil Resumption Process, Justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa
OGONI/Nigeria: The people of Ogoniland have staged a massive protest in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, decrying the alleged hijack of the oil resumption process by politicians with vested interests masquerading as defenders of the Ogoni cause.
The peaceful demonstration, which attracted various Ogoni groups supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s oil resumption initiative, condemned the current discussions for sidelining key developmental concerns in Ogoniland. The protesters insisted that the ongoing oil resumption process must be championed by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the grassroots organization that led the historic protests that forced Shell out of Ogoni in 1993.
They expressed strong opposition to what they described as a scheme by politicians to impose themselves on the people without their mandate, while deliberately avoiding the development blueprint prepared by MOSOP for oil resumption. According to them, sidelining the Ogoni Development Authority’s framework undermines the legitimate interests of the Ogoni people, who have been convinced by MOSOP that oil resumption must be mutually beneficial to both the community and the Federal Government.
Several organizations joined the protest, including MOSOP, the Federation of Ogoni Women’s Associations (FOWA), the Ogoni Living Martyrs, the Ogoni Peace and Unity Forum, and the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP). Marching through the streets of Bori, the protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Clear Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Name Now,” “No to Forceful Oil Resumption,” “We Want Justice for Ogoni 9,” “Ribadu and Mitee, Leave Ogoni Oil Alone,” “Stop the Ogoni Genocide,” and “No Exoneration, No Oil Resumption in Ogoniland.”
Addressing the crowd at the Peace Park in Bori, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke insisted that any decision on oil resumption must involve MOSOP leadership.
“There cannot be oil resumption in any part of Ogoni without MOSOP’s input. We will not accept any decision imposed on us without our participation. MOSOP cannot and will not be marginalized,” Nsuke declared.
He reaffirmed MOSOP’s pivotal role in the fight for environmental justice and human rights in Ogoniland, emphasizing that the movement initiated the call for oil exploration to resume, not the political class.
“MOSOP started this struggle, and we were the first to demand the return of oil exploration in Ogoni, not the politicians. We will not be silenced or ignored in the decision-making process. Any attempt to suppress our voice will be lawfully and nonviolently resisted until we achieve victory,” Nsuke stated.
He also appealed to President Tinubu to halt the ongoing process initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and to establish a more transparent framework that accommodates the views of the Ogoni people.
Similarly, Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel, President of NYCOP, reiterated the demand for justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, asserting that they were unjustly executed in 1995 without a fair trial.
“Ken Saro-Wiwa was not guilty of any crime. He was a hero who fought for the rights of the Ogoni people, and his name must be cleared,” Emmanuel insisted.
While affirming that Ogoni youths support oil resumption, Emmanuel stressed the need for inclusive dialogue with the Federal Government. He also called for operational licenses to be granted to indigenous Ogoni companies, the unbundling of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, and adequate compensation for the people.
“We are not against development. We are against exploitation and marginalization. We want to be part of the decision-making process, and we want our rights to be respected,” he said.
Emmanuel urged National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to rein in Ogoni politicians who, he claimed, could sabotage the President’s sincere intentions for the region.
“We are not asking for too much. We simply want the Federal Government to recognize our rights as Ogoni people and involve us in the decision-making process regarding oil exploration in our land,” he emphasized.
He further demanded a panel of inquiry into the killing of the Ogoni Four at Giokoo, allegedly at the hands of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists, stressing the need for justice and accountability.
“We want to know the truth about what happened to our brothers. We will not accept any decision imposed on us without our input. We will resist any attempt to marginalize or ignore our rights,” he said.
Emmanuel also challenged former MOSOP President Barr. Ledum Mitee to align with the Ogoni people if he intends to lead discussions on oil resumption.
“You cannot serve two masters. You must choose which side you are on. If you want to lead the discussion, you must stand with the Ogoni people,” he declared.
The protest and subsequent press briefing reinforced the unwavering determination of the Ogoni people to seek justice, environmental restoration, and fair participation in decisions affecting their land. As one of the placards read, “No exoneration, no oil resumption in Ogoniland.”
