News

Oil Resumption: MOSOP Cautions as Opposition Mounts

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider his decision on the resumption of oil production in Ogoni citing improper consultations leading to increasing tension and opposition tensions between groups.

The organisation also cautioned divergent groups against incitements urging all parties to be united in the interest of Ogoni rather than fighting each other.

President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, who made the calls in a statement today said the caution has become inevitable following very inciting statements from proponents of oil resumption and the massive condemnation from those opposed to it.

Nsuke urged the Ogoni people to remain calm while expressing hopes that Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will heed the calls for a more inclusive engagement that allows the Ogoni people to truly and collectively represent themselves on the way forward.

Nsuke said although MOSOP had not been part of the current move to resume oil production, its position is that whatever will be done must accommodate the various interest groups and represent a collective position.

“I am not aware of an Ogoni General Assembly, Congress, MOSOP Central Committee or Executive Committee meeting which approved the report recently submitted to Mr President. Therefore, I can emphatically state that MOSOP and the grassroots of Ogoni have been alienated from the process”

Nsuke however noted that despite the faulty start, things can still be amended and properly streamlined to make it work if the organisers would listen. He called for an honest engagement with key stakeholders so as to harmonize and present a more generally acceptable Ogoni position after a thorough process of engagement with the Ogoni public.

“Let’s tell ourselves the truth. Tensions are high and palpable. I think we all need to talk to ourselves and allow a proper discussion that can lead to acceptable compromises so that we can move forward. The way it is, I do not think we have done it right.” Nsuke said.

Nsuke urged all parties to maintain civility despite disagreements. He particularly causioned proponents and supporters of oil resumption against using threatening languages, noting that the backing of the government is not sufficient reason to threaten opposing voices.

“I urge all parties to maintain civility. We are all Ogonis and I will encourage us to peacefully resolve our differences rather than escalate them.”

“On the issue of resuming oil production in Ogoni, we have not gotten it right at the moment. We simply need to do some more work to get everyone tin alignment”, he said.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button