…Ogoni Threaten to Shut Down Process, Demand Justice for Saro-Wiwa, Others
A massive protest erupted in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, as Ogoni indigenes took to the streets to express their outrage over the alleged hijack of the oil resumption process by politicians with vested interests.
The Bureau Newspaper gathered that the protesters, drawn from various Ogoni communities and grassroots organizations, accused certain political figures of sidelining the people in ongoing discussions concerning oil production in the region. They insisted that any resumption of oil activities must be spearheaded by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which led the original struggle that forced Shell out of Ogoniland in 1993.
Speaking to The Bureau Newspaper, MOSOP President, Mr. Fegalo Nsuke, condemned the actions of politicians who, according to him, are attempting to impose decisions on the people without consulting the legitimate representatives of the Ogoni struggle.
“There cannot be oil resumption in any part of Ogoni without inputs from MOSOP leadership,” Nsuke stated. “We will not accept any decision that is imposed on us without our involvement. MOSOP started this struggle, and we will not be marginalized in the decision-making process. Any attempt to sideline us will be lawfully and nonviolently resisted.”
The protesters, who marched through the streets of Bori, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Clear Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Name Now,” “No to Forceful Oil Resumption,” “Stop the Ogoni Genocide,” and “No Exoneration, No Oil Resumption in Ogoniland.”
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) President, Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel, also spoke exclusively to The Bureau Newspaper, emphasizing that the Ogoni people will not accept any oil resumption process that does not include the full exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni activists executed in 1995.
“Ken Saro-Wiwa was not guilty of any crime,” Emmanuel stated. “He was a hero who fought for the rights of the Ogoni people, and his name must be cleared. We want oil resumption, but it must be done the right way. The Federal Government must engage in a transparent, roundtable discussion with the Ogoni people, not impose decisions through political middlemen.”
He further demanded that the government grant operational licenses to indigenous Ogoni companies, unbundle OML 11, and provide adequate compensation for decades of environmental degradation suffered by 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 added.
The protesters also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the current process being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and initiate a new, inclusive approach that would genuinely reflect the interests of the Ogoni people.
“Ribadu and Mitee should help Ogoni people,” one protester declared, referring to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and former MOSOP leader Barr. Ledum Mitee, whom they accused of supporting the collective interests of the people.
Emmanuel further issued a strong warning to political figures allegedly trying to manipulate the process for personal gains.
“The National Security Adviser must call the Ogoni political class to order before they sabotage the President’s genuine intentions. We are not asking for too much—just that the government recognizes our rights as Ogoni people and involves us in every decision regarding oil exploration on our land,” he told The Bureau Newspaper.
Additionally, the protesters demanded a full investigation into the killing of the Ogoni Four, an incident that led to the controversial trial and execution of Saro-Wiwa and others in 1995.
“We want to know the truth about what happened to our brothers. Justice must be served, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Emmanuel insisted.
The protest, which saw massive participation from MOSOP, the Federation of Ogoni Women’s Associations (FOWA), the Ogoni Living Martyrs, the Ogoni Peace and Unity Forum, and NYCOP, underscored the deep frustration among the Ogoni people over their continued exclusion from discussions about their land and resources.
As tensions continue to rise, the Ogoni people have vowed to resist any attempt to impose an oil resumption process without their full participation, with some warning that they will take further action if their demands are ignored.
