Leaders of 19 oil host communities in Ogoniland, Rivers State, have urged the federal government to relocate host communities and oil-impacted homes to another settlement before resuming environmental activities or oil and gas businesses.
In a letter signed and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, after a meeting of oil host communities leaders in Bera, Gokana Local Government Area of the State, the communities expressed that they have suffered tremendously without commensurate pay for their tapped natural economic resources.
Disclosing the letter’s content on behalf of the host communities, President of Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), Douglas Fabeke, said the call was vital due to the high level of environmental degradation in Ogoniland.
They further revealed that they were ready to withdraw all pending cases in court over various degrees of injuries dispensed to the Ogoniland and its people if the government demonstrated the sincerity of purpose in implementing their requests, including payment of compensation.
The letter reads in parts: “Besides, the host communities shall include in the final draft the following developmental and impactful areas for Mr. President’s implementation, namely Scholarship, TrustFund, Payment of compensation.
“Demonstration of practical steps for restoration of our polluted environment and development of the land through complete and total implementation of UNEP Report’s recommendations, including the emergency measures, which are neglected by the ongoing clean-up exercise.
“Relocation of all host communities and impacted homes to another well-settled location because of the high level of environmental degradation, before any environmental activities and oil and gas business should be carried.
“That the host communities and Ogoni Liberation Initiative are ready to withdraw all pending cases in courts over various decrees of injuries meted out to the Ogoniland and her peoplegovernmentovernment actually demonstrates the sincerity of purpose in the implementation all our requests, including payment of compensation benefits.
“government should take cognizance of the fact that since the invasion of Shell in Ogoniland in 1958, we have suffered tremendously without commensurate pay for our tapped natural economic resources.
“Therefore, we appeal to the President to fulfill his words, thus, “Commitment to ensuring clemency and national integration as part of his administration’s bid to lay the foundation for genuine reconciliation and bring closure to the issues of Ogoniland.”
Fabeke, speaking further on the flag-off of the Green Energy Revolution project in collaboration with Sun Energy Community Development Initiative., said 100 Ogoni youths are expected to be trained on the production of Green Energy.
He stated that the project was designed to provide power without petrol, and the company is expected to manufacture its solar products in Ogoni.
