Following what they described as “deliberate attempts to sabotage the ongoing dialogue aimed at resolving the decades-long Ogoni crisis,” leaders and people of Ogoniland in Rivers State, have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to rein in Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in order not to jeopardise the peace of the area.
The petition which was captured on the aegis of the ‘Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP)’, a collection of concerned Ogoni sons and daughters committed to peace, justice, and long-term stability in Ogoniland and the Nigerian state, specifically expressed strong support for the ongoing Federal Government-Ogoni dialogue and peace process currently being facilitated by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
COOP specifically noted that the root cause of the deliberate sabotage can be traced to a long-standing compensation dispute involving the Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), arising from environmental devastation claims that were successfully litigated and won by the community.
These were contained in a statement by the leader and Spokesperson of COOP, Chief Gani Topba in which he pointedly accused the FCT Minister (Wike) of engaging in calculated moves to frustrate the dialogue process.
COOP which was formerly known as ‘Ken Saro Wiwa Associates’ noted that the deliberate actions of Wike aimed at sabotaging the peace process started during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
COOP further said that during Wike’s tenure as governor, the Rivers State Government became deeply involved in the matter, which has remained controversial and unresolved in the court of public opinion.
COOP further said; “We passionately appeal to the President to ensure that no individual, regardless of status, is allowed to undermine national interest for personal or sectional gain, and to continue to support a transparent, inclusive, and lawful pathway to the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, for the benefit of all Nigerians”.
It expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s intervention at this critical moment in order to safeguard peace in Ogoniland and also reaffirm the authority of the Nigerian state and commitment to justice, national unity, and economic recovery.
The Ogoni people cited some alarming developments during the recent visit to their land by the NSA, Mallam Ribadu, during which the political associates of Wike were allegedly directed to boycott and undermine the visit, stressing that was a pointer to the deliberate efforts made to sabotage the dialogue process at the community level.
COOP further said; “More troubling are reports of the recruitment of armed thugs from across Rivers State, who are said to be currently camped within the precincts of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters”.
The community alleged that Wike is unhappy with the Governor Siminalaiyi Fubara for cooperating with the National Security Adviser towards ensuring the success of the Ogoni dialogue and peace process.
According to COOP; “Our information is that after the NSA left Rivers State, the Minister directed the Chairmen of the Local Government Areas (LGAS) in Ogoniland (namely: Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana) to recruit armed youths who would be used to cause security breaches and frustrate the completion of the ongoing dialogue and eventual resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland.
“From available reports, key individuals opposed to Wike’s directive to scuttle the oil resumption effort of the Federal Government may be allegedly earmarked for elimination in each of the Ogoni Local Government Areas,” it said.
COOP therefore warned that if left unchecked, the actions allegedly instigated by Wike posed a serious threat to public peace and security in Rivers State.
It also warned that Wike’s moves risk igniting widespread violence, and could completely derail the fragile, but promising Ogoni dialogue process.
The community also noted that current dialogue process is worth salvaging since it has been widely welcomed by the generality of Ogoni people as the most sincere, inclusive, and structured effort ever, which seeks to achieve lasting peace in Ogoni, enhance environmental remediation and restoration, economic reintegration of Ogoni into the national and gas economy, and the safe and legitimate resumption of oil production in OML II, which would significantly boost national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, energy security, and employment”.
The people of Ogoniland appealed to President Tinubu to rein in the FCT Minister to desist from further fomenting trouble in their community, stressing that “Ogoni people are tired of conflict, manipulation, and being used as pawns in political and economic struggles”.
The group noted that for the first time in many years, there is genuine hope that justice, peace, and development may finally come to our land and therefore urged President Tinubu to protect and sustain the ongoing dialogue process and to mandate relevant security and intelligence agencies to investigate the allegations and prevent any actions capable of destabilising Rivers State.
