Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), has petitioned the European Union over the controversy surrounding the OML 11 oil field.
Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, the factional president of the movement travelled Brussels in Belgium, where he is holding meetings with the leadership of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisations(UNPO), diplomats at the European Commission and non-governmental organisations, advocating indigenous and minority peoples rights.
According to a statement on Friday by the Acting Publicity Secretary OF MOSOP, Sunny Zorvah, Pyagbarahad earlier held a meeting with the Secretary-General of UNPO, Mr. Ralph Bunche, at the UNPO Secretariat, Brussels, where he handed over to him the MOSOP Petition to the President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, over the controversial transfer of operatorship of OML 11, without due consultation with Ogoni People, including the recent killing of Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a chieftain of MOSOP.
During the handover, the MOSOP President called on UNPO to help and collaborate with MOSOP to raise the issue of the Ogoni people internationally as they did earlier in the Ogoni struggle particularly now that the government wants to forcefully re-enter the area without addressing the basic issues involved in the Ogoni struggle.
MOSOP President, Comrade Legborsi Saro Pyagbara in a group photograph with some leaders of European NGOs drawn from UK, Netherlands, Turkey, Tajikistan, Albania, France.
The MOSOP President charged UNPO to lead on the campaign in Europe and beyond, especially now that the UNPO Secretariat is located in the headquarters of the European Parliament and the European Commission.
In his response, the UNPO Secretary-General, Mr. Ralph Bunche, said the Ogoni people are a strategic partner of the UNPO, promising that they would do all in their powers to ensure that the attention of the world is drawn to this emerging conflict on the attempt for resumption of oil operations in the Ogoni area by the government.
He assured that UNPO will mobilise international support for the position of the Ogoni people until the government responds positively.
He charged the Ogoni people to remain resilient, dogged and united for the cause of justice.
In a related development, the MOSOP President, Comrade Legborsi Pyagbara, also met with a group of environmental NGOs based in Brussels, where he briefed them about the Ogoni situation and solicited their support. The MOSOP boss maintained that the Ogoni struggle was first and foremost an environmental struggle for the redemption of the environment.
He called on them to offer their support to the Ogoni people, highlighting that Ogoni people need them now than ever before.
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