Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed that the intentions of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC), does not mean well for the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality as its hasty invasion into their lands posses a threat to their peace and security.
Recall that the NPDC had announced its preparedness to resume oil exploration in Ogoni, with promises to bring value and development to the communities after an Appeal court in Abuja stripped Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) its operatorship of Ogoni oilfields.
In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of MOSOP, Friday Nkpah, explained that if the NPDC meant well, it would have followed due consultations with the people, securing their approval before pursuing other activities.
According to reports from the Steering Committee set on behalf of the group, warned that the NPDC was hiding behind a Court of Appeal judgement which is in favour of the Federal Government, in order to infiltrate Ogoniland.
The statement noted that there were more to the promises made by the company, which are evident in recent developments in the Niger Delta, while urging Ogonis to reject the corporation.
“We strongly believe that there are more to the actions of NPDC than meets the eye. Weighing recent developments in Nigeria affecting the Niger Delta region, especially Ogoni, against the rapidity with which the NNPC subsidiary rushed into the area, points to some unwholesome intent. Hence, we urge all Ogonis to roundly reject the corporation.”
The group noted that their decision is not a case of malice but on the grounds of the insensitivity on the part of NPDC to follow due protocols of business/community relationship.
Recalling the previous rejection of the oil exploration company in Ogoniland, MOSOP explained that the company’s intentions were ingenuine, as it would have “painstakingly” pursued consultations with the communities.
“If it meant well, it would have painstakingly pursued consultations and secure the approval of the people before embarking on any other activity else. We recall that in 2017, we persistently protested against NPDC’s attempts at obtaining a dubious mandate to commence oil extraction in our land.”
MOSOP accused NPDC of bribery and sponsorship of some violent activities that threatened the peace of the area, all in a bid to obtain the approval to explore the Ogoni oilfields.
“It pursued that agenda with bribery, division and churning out of absolute falsehood. At a certain point, it sponsored some violent activities that threatened peace and security in the area. However, it is not lost on us what similar externally masterminded approach in the past had inflicted on us.
“Today, we have lost over 2,000 Ogonis including a generation of the Ogoni leadership and we are yet to recover from its impact. And we do not want a repeat of that incident.”
Rejecting the NPDC, the group noted that its hasty invasion of their land showed that the company lacked the ability to be a good corporate citizen.
MOSOP expressed that the NPDC will be held responsible for any form of crisis in Ogoni, if it does not retrace its steps, following the consent of the people.
“We would reiterate the position that MOSOP is not opposed to genuine economic investments including mining of crude oil in Ogoni since such ventures would help to address our challenges including unemployment, poverty and conflict.
“And we are prepared to ensure an enabling environment and disposition supportive of such venture provided the investment would not only be human rights friendly but would allow it to flourish in our communities.
“However, we insist that for any oil production to resume in Ogoni, it must be preceded with the free, prior and informed consent of the people strengthened via upright discussion that is clear, broad-based and focused.”
