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Tinubu: My Government Will Prioritise Peace, Justice, Development of Ogoniland

President Tinubu has pledged peace, justice, and development for Ogoni people, urging reconciliation and addressing historical grievances in Rivers State.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday assured Ogoni leaders on Tuesday  that his administration would prioritise peace, justice, and sustainable development of the area in Rivers state.

This is just as a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations called on the federal government to release $1trillion for the clean-up of the Niger Delta  and compensation for loss of livelihoods in the region.

Speaking at a meeting at the State House in Abuja, President Tinubu passionately called for unity and reconciliation, urging the Ogoni people to set aside historical grievances and work together to achieve peace, development, and a clean environment.

According to him: “We cannot in any way rewrite history, but we can correct some anomalies of the past going forward. We cannot heal the wounds if we continue to be angry” 

The President, in a release issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, directed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate the negotiations as he called for inclusive consultation and mutual understanding.

President Tinubu at the close-door meeting attended by Governor Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, commended the delegation for embracing the Federal Government-led dialogue and emphasised the need for collaboration, trust, and inclusiveness to resolve lingering issues in the region.

“We must work together with mutual trust. Go back home, do more consultations, and embrace others. We must make this trip worthwhile by bringing peace, development, and a clean environment back to Ogoniland,” President Tinubu said.

He asked ministers, the NNPCL, and the Rivers State Government to cooperate with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to achieve this mandate.

“It is a great honour for me to have this meeting, which is an opportunity to dialogue with the people of Ogoniland.

“It has been many years since your children and myself partnered to resist military dictatorship in this country. No one dreamt I would be in this chair as President, but we thank God.

“Many of your sons present here were my friends and co-travellers in the streets of Nigeria, Europe, and America.

“I know what to do in memory of our beloved ones so that their sacrifices will not be in vain,” the President said.

Earlier in his speech, Governor Fubara thanked the President for his support of the Ogoni people and for welcoming an all-inclusive representation of the people to the Presidential Villa.

He said the meeting was a follow-up to an assignment the President gave him through the National Security Adviser.

Emphasising the importance of resuming oil operations in Ogoniland, the governor pledged the delegation’s commitment to adhering to the President’s instructions and providing the necessary support to achieve the government’s objectives.

“What we are doing here today is to concretise the love and respect we have for the President for being behind this meeting and for him to tell us to go back and continue the consultations with a timeline so that the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland will commence,” he said.

On his part, National Security Adviser commended the Ogoni people for their trust in President Tinubu and for embracing dialogue as a path to meaningful progress and enduring solutions.

“Guided by Mr. President’s vision that every voice is heard and every interest is considered, my office, the DSS, the government of Rivers State and the Minister of FCT embarked on a diligent and consultative process to assemble this delegation,” Ribadu said.

He noted that the over 50-member delegation that met with the President reflected the rich diversity of Ogoni society, representing various constituencies, interests, and viewpoints.

“The presence of this delegation is a testament to the Ogoni people’s readiness to engage constructively in the pursuit of peace, justice, and sustainable development,” the NSA said.

Also speaking, a representative of the Ogoni leadership, King Festus Babari Bagia Gberesaako XIII, the Gberemene of Gokana Kingdom, expressed the community leaders’ willingness to engage in the process of finding lasting solutions to the lingering challenges in Ogoniland.

Also on Tuesday, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) urged the Federal Government to earmark $1trillion for immediate clean up of the degraded Niger Delta environment and compensation for loss of livelihoods.

In a statement signed by a coalition of 16 CSOs yesterday, the groups insisted that attempt to resume oil extraction in the region already ravaged by environmental neglect further exacerbates the suffering of the people and is a affront on their right to a safe environment.

The groups that signed the statement include; Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative, Ogoni Solidarity Forum-Nigeria, South South Youths Initiative, Peoples Advancement Centre, Environmental Rights Action, Kebetkache women development centre, Social Action, Lekeh Development Centre and Rainbowwatch Development Centre.

Other signatories are Kallop Humanitarian and  Environmental Centre, Pilex Centre, Oilwatch Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, We The People, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa and Rights Advocacy and Development Centre.

The coalition which claimed to be concerned civil society organisations in the Niger Delta met at the Port Harcourt office of Environmental Rights Action to deliberate on the recent invitation for a private meeting in Abuja to discuss the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland. 

They condemned the nation’s dependence on fossil fuel, saying “it is however insensitive for this administration to open any form of discussion with handpicked group of Ogoni leaders for such talks”, noting that the overall will of the majority of Ogonis is paramount in the resumption matter. 

The groups expressed their unequivocal condemnation of the planned resumption of oil exploration and production activities in Ogoniland. 

They stressed that the decision disregard the enduring environmental, social, and economic injustices faced by the Ogoni people and undermines efforts toward sustainable development, environmental justice, community empowerment and cleanup of the devastated environment.

The demands of the CSOs include that the federal government should “halt all plans for resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland until there is meaningful consultation with the Ogoni people and full remediation of the damaged environment.

“That not one more oil well should be drilled in the Niger Delta and the government, and the oil companies should commence immediate and total cleanup of the region.

“One trillion United States Dollars should be earmarked for immediate clean up of the Niger Delta and compensation for loss of livelihoods. Immediate review of the Kangaroo Military trial and execution of ken Saro-Wiwa with other martyrs and their exoneration.

“Immediate and unconditional release of the confiscated Ken Saro-Memorial Bus sculpture held by Nigeria Customs since 2015.

“Full Implementation of the UNEP Report and ensuring that the clean-up and restoration of Ogoniland are prioritised and carried out transparently and effectively.

More funding should be allocated to HYPREP to hasten up their actions on the clean up.

“Ensure justice for the Ogoni People by addressing historical grievances, including compensation for environmental and economic losses and accountability for decades of ecological destruction.

“Holding oil companies, particularly Shell, accountable for past environmental damages and human rights violations. Demilitarisation of the Niger Delta and an end to the intimidation and harassment of environmental activists and local communities.”

They also demanded “enforcing strict regulations on oil companies operating in Nigeria. Halt all discussions on divestment until the polluted Niger Delta region is cleaned up”.

The coalition added that “resumption of oil activities in Ogoniland is not only a betrayal of the Ogoni struggle but also a threat to the environment and future generations and a false hope that colonial extractivism promotes positive development”.

Deji Elumoye and Blessing Ibunge

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