RIVERS – The indigenes of Ogoniland under the aegis of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), has drawn the attention of world leaders and all men of conscience to intervene in the situation in Ogoniland and to put pressure on the Nigerian government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to immediately commence the implementation of the United Nations report on the Ogoni environment and avert an impending genocide.
In a press statement released by the organization’s Publicity Secretary, Fegalo Nsuke on Sunday claimed that between March 2-17, 2018, Bodo community in Gokana local government area alone buried 33 persons while 29 persons died in K-Dere also in Gokana local government area. Similar reports are also coming from all Ogoni villages.
The statement reads; “MOSOP wants to use this opportunity to alert the world of what is clearly a Shell/state-sponsored genocide in Ogoniland. We are concerned that Shell and the Federal government of Nigeria is doing little or nothing about the restoration of Ogoniland and the immediate provision of water for the people even as communities’ record increasing death rates.
“MOSOP flays this inhuman attitude of the Nigerian government and Shell and urge the world not to allow this happen in the 21st century.
“We take exception to the fact that just recently in December 2017, while the Nigerian government approved $1billion to purchase arms to fight against insurgents, the same government has failed to provide an agreed sum of $200million annually for five years to save the lives of over one million people in Ogoniland.
“We note that in the midst of these terrible conditions, government remained silent about the threats posed by Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Michael Limited, both Nigerian oil firms who are currently sponsoring rival groups in the hope to force a resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, despite our repeated notification and firm position expressing our disapproval to oil production without the implementation of the UNEP report and other conditions.”
The statement further noted that; “It is disturbing that while Ogoni is increasingly threatened by the effects of years of pollution from Shell’s reckless business practices, the Nigerian government is doing nothing as Belema Oil and Robo Michael continue to sponsor divisions and rivalry, thereby increasing the potential for conflicts that can worsen the condition of people who are already faced with death from environmental pollution.
“We call on world leaders to stand up for humanity and save the Ogoni people from going extinct. The world must not be silent over this grave danger faced by over one million people in Ogoniland. We urge all men of conscience to stand up and stop Shell and the Nigerian government from executing this genocide”.
