By Mark Lenu
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People has rejected an alleged move to have Geoplex Drillteq resume oil exploration in Ogoniland.
MOSOP in a press release signed by its National President, Fegalo Nsuke also condemned the involvement of some selected chiefs in Ogoni.
“The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) wishes to register its displeasure against the activities of Geoplex Drillteq Limited, a company touted by selected Ogoni chiefs for the purpose of resuming oil production in Ogoni despite an overwhelming opposition from the Ogoni people.
“We have received very credible information about a planned meeting of this group of chiefs with representatives of Geoplex Drillteq Limited on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, Ogoni to endorse the company (Geoplex) for the same purpose of resuming oil production in Ogoni.
“MOSOP dissociates itself from the said meeting of May 25, 2024, at Bori, which seeks to endorse Geoplex and states our unequivocal rejection of Geoplex Drillteq Limited for whatever purpose that has to do with resuming oil and gas production in Ogoni on the grounds that the conduct of the company is outrightly repressive and brutish and tending towards the genocidal methods of Shell.
“We reiterate that MOSOP led the struggle against Shell and the position of MOSOP on the issue of oil production in Ogoni should be taken very seriously. We reject the violent-prone approach of Geoplex and some Ogoni chiefs and maintain our commitment to a genuine broad-based engagement that addresses legitimate demands and concerns of the Ogoni people.
“MOSOP’s minimal demand calls for a fair proportion of Ogoni resources to be set aside for Ogoni development through the operationalization of an Ogoni Development Authority,” the statement said.
