By Mark Lenu
Following the signing of a bill for the establishment of a university of environmental technology in Ogoniland by President Bola Tinubu, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged the federal government to quickly kick-start the varsity.
The approval of a federal varsity in Ogoniland came after a delegation of Ogoni leaders visited Tinubu at the State House, Abuja to discuss Ogoni issues with the president including how to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland.
Speaking with our correspondent, the President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke said that signing a bill is one thing and fully implementing the bill is another thing as he maintained that though he welcomes the move by the Tinubu-led federal government, the Ogonis would want to see the varsity in full operation.
“We want to see the full take-off of the varsity beyond just signing a bill for its establishment in Ogoniland.
“Signing a bill is one thing but implementing it and getting it to take off is another thing. Yes, it is a welcome development but we would like to see it realized, “Nsuke said.
The approval for the establishment of a federal varsity in Ogoniland was said to be part of the demands put forward by the delegation of Ogoni leaders during its recent meeting with Tinubu.
With the revamping of some government-owned refineries such as the Port Harcourt and Wari refineries as well as the siting of a new private refinery by Aliko Dangote on Nigerian soil, the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland could top the mind of the federal government.
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But what the Ogoni people are demanding for before oil exploration can resume in their area is not too much as all their demands still boil down to addressing of the economic and environmental injustices the area had suffered at the hands of the government and the oil multinational companies.
However, the Tinubu-led federal government had pledged not to play politics with its attempt to resume oil production in Ogoniland, adding that it is committed to addressing the critical concerns raised by the Ogonis.
