Tinubu Support Group says resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni indicates success of Tinubu’s government
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has described the impending resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland after 30 years under the watch of President Bola Tinubu as an indicator of the resolution of long-standing issues in the oil-rich area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG noted that it was a result of the administration’s courage and determination to resolve the underlying issues of injustice and environmental degradation in Ogoniland.
It said: “We are aware that since assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has left none in doubt about his commitment to ensuring justice and environmental protection in a community that is seen as the poster child for environmental degradation in the country.
”This was partly as a result of the suspension of oil exploration in Ogoni arising from the contentious issues of justice over the execution of nine activists, otherwise called the Ogoni 9, led by renowned author and environmentalist, Ken Saro Wiwa, in 1994.
”We recall that barely 18 months in office, the President used the 29th anniversary of the death of the Ogoni 9 in the hands of the then military administration to honour Saro Wiwa and others as well as address historical grievances that led to the exit of Shell and the consequent halt to oil exploration activities in the area.
”Since then, President Tinubu has honoured Saro-Wiwa and the other activists with post- humous national awards, signed a bill establishing a Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni, as well as set up a Presidential Consultative Committee that included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to resolve issues that were never resolved in the aftermath of the killing of four Ogoni elders in 1993, a development which was used as a basis for the execution of the Ogoni 9.
”Those four leaders have also been given posthumous national honours and it was interesting listening to the President, after receiving a report on the consultation, urging the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to work closely with Ogoni leaders, and other stakeholders to finalize modalities for the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
”We acknowledge that this was after Ribadu, who had noted at the event that the consultative process had succeeded to the extent that all parties have decided on the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
”This, for us, is victory for the mediatory efforts of the Tinubu administration backed by the Rivers State government and other notable stakeholders in the area.
”We recognize that there are still individuals and groups who may not be satisfied with the trade-off, but we are convinced that all knotty issues would be resolved for oil drilling to resume after 30 years.
”We believe that provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which mandate oil and gas companies to set aside 3% of their annual operating expenses for the development of communities directly affected by exploration activities, will be of great benefit to the Ogoni people.”
The group added that President Tinubu would fulfill his promise to ensure that the people benefit from oil exploration in their communities.
