John Diidi
The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has condemned plans by the Federal Government of Nigeria to build a maximum security prison and a cemetery in Ogoniland.
President of MOSOP, Legborsi Pyagbara, said earlier that the movement had uncovered the plan, which has been concluded by the Federal Ministry of Interior to seize over 41 hectares of land in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, to build a maximum security prison facility with modern cemetery.
However, Ogoni Youth Federation President, Yamaabana Legborsi, released a statement on behalf of Ogoni youths, condemning the Federal Government’s alleged plan.
“We have it on good ground that this surreptitious move had been concluded by the Federal Ministry of Interior and will involve the seizure of over forty-one (41) hectares of land in Khana LGA-Ogoni.
“It is unfortunate that while Ogoni communities are still battling with the hazards that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) caused and the inability of the federal government to quickly remediate and restore the already over-polluted environment as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nigerian Government is planning to increase the woes of the Ogoni people.
“We urge the Federal Government to site such project in the northeast where killing and all sort of heinous crimes occur daily.
“What the Ogoni people need from the government now is the restoration of the contaminated land, a genuine investment that would create job opportunities for Ogoni youths and building of Ogoni Centre of Excellence as recommended by UNEP and not the building of maximum security prison and cemetery.
“We call on friends of Ogoni, and the international community to prevail o the Nigerian government to jettison the planned building of maximum prison and cemetery. Ogoni Youths would vehemently resist it”
“Enough of this hanky-panky business”
