By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
THE Ogoni diaspora, represented by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP-USA), has declared that oil production will not resume in Ogoniland until the historic Ogoni Bill of Rights is ratified and enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
In a firm communiqué issued after events in Boston, USA, marking the 30th anniversary of the Ogoni martyrs, the group stated that the Bill of Rights—first articulated in the 1957 Willink Commission—is a “non-negotiable prerequisite” for any future oil operations.
The statement, signed by Elder DineBari Augustine Kpuinen, Executive Director of MOSOP-USA, reaffirmed a commitment to honouring the legacy of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa through non-violent advocacy.
It also laid out an extensive list of demands for the Nigerian government and NNPC Limited.
Key demands include the immediate creation of a distinct Ogoni state, condemning the current “unjust” revenue-sharing formula that leaves Ogoni sharing a single portion with numerous other ethnic groups; a complete halt to gas production in Ledor and a declaration that all oil firms remain persona non grata until their conditions are met; a full exoneration and national apology for the state-sanctioned murder of the ‘Ogoni Nine’ and the massacre of over 4,000 Ogoni people under the Abacha regime; the rehabilitation of 2,000 displaced Ogoni families currently in the Republic of Benin; urgent environmental action, including the dissolution of the current clean-up agency, HYPREP—criticised for substandard work—and its replacement with an Ogoni Environmental Restoration Agency to implement the 2011 UNEP Report properly; and major infrastructure improvements, notably a new, centralised scheme to provide toxic-free drinking water and 24-hour electricity to Ogoni communities.
The communiqué stressed that the environment remains unfit for extraction, requiring a UNEP-certified cleanup before any consideration of resuming operations. It also expressed disappointment that a recent presidential pardon for the Ogoni Nine fell short of the desired full exoneration.
The statement concluded with a stark warning: if these demands are not met, the Ogoni people will not compromise and may seek protection elsewhere. This stance marks a significant escalation in their decades-long struggle for self-determination, environmental justice, and an end to marginalisation.
What's your reaction?
