Dr. Fabeke Douglas of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend ongoing negotiations on the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, calling for a fresh and transparent process to address the longstanding grievances of the Ogoni people.
In a letter addressed to the President, Fabeke acknowledged efforts by the Federal Government to address the Ogoni question but argued that the current dialogue process had failed to adequately address some critical issues that could further deepen existing grievances.
He maintained that any meaningful discussion on the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland must be anchored on the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which he described as the definitive expression of the collective demands of the Ogoni people.
Fabeke said the history of the Ogoni struggle, including the 1993 mass protest, the killings of Ogoni leaders in 1994 and the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995, must be properly addressed before oil production resumes.
He rejected calls for a pardon for Saro-Wiwa and the other executed activists, insisting that what the Ogoni people require is their exoneration.
The Ogoni Liberation Initiative also alleged that communities in Tai Local Government Area, including Tumbee, Ledor and Oloko, had suffered destruction, killings and displacement, leaving some residents unable to return to their ancestral homes.
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Fabeke expressed concern over what he described as ongoing oil-related operations in some affected communities, particularly Oloko and Ledor.
He therefore called on President Tinubu to order an immediate halt to operations in the two communities pending the establishment of a more inclusive process for addressing the concerns of affected residents.
The activist also raised concerns about the implementation of the Ogoni environmental clean-up, arguing that despite funds committed to the programme, several communities still lack access to clean water and a safe environment.
Among his demands, Fabeke urged the Federal Government to suspend the current oil resumption negotiations and initiate a new process that would comprehensively address the historical, environmental and political grievances of the Ogoni people.
He further called for the commencement of the process of creating Bori State, arguing that statehood would give Ogoni greater responsibility for its development, create employment opportunities and strengthen its relationship with the Federal Government.
Fabeke said the Ogoni people were prepared to cooperate with the Tinubu administration if the Federal Government demonstrated sincerity in resolving the longstanding crisis.
He warned against what he described as a “divide and rule” approach, stressing that the demands of the Ogoni people centred on justice, restoration and self-determination within the Nigerian federation.
The Ogoni Liberation Initiative urged President Tinubu to give the matter urgent attention, arguing that a just resolution of the Ogoni question could bring lasting peace to the region and become a significant legacy of his administration.
