By Daniel Abia
Port Harcourt—The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, says the dialogue opportunity offered by the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, to resolve the Ogoni conflicts could be a turning point for the Ogoni people to resolve over 33 years conflicts with the Nigerian oil industry.
MOSOP, therefore, called on the Ogoni people to give the dialogue initiative coordinated by the NSA a chance to succeed for the overall benefits of all parties involved.
President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, at a meeting of MOSOP leaders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, weekend, said the ongoing dialogue process significantly departs from previous approaches of the government and deserves to be tested.
Nsuke noted that the current approach is people-centered and commended the office of the NSA for the initiative.
He said: “The Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, collectively fought to secure a future for our people. Whatever will be the benefits of the struggles should also be for the good of all Ogoni.
“Whoever wants to own an oil company should register with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and not attempt to shortchange Ogoni interests.
“I urge Ogoni people to rise in defence of their costly struggles. We have an opportunity to discuss mutual benefits and MOSOP will strongly back a mutually beneficial settlement from ongoing dialogue.”
He urged the general public to discountenance all self-centred attempts to derail the progress recorded so far, noting that the focus of everyone should be on mutual benefits for the Ogoni people.
Nsuke said MOSOP has strongly insisted only on collective benefits that represent the sacrifices of the Ogoni people. He further noted that at this time, MOSOP has given its support to the ongoing dialogue process and will be patient to see the outcome of the process.
He condemned what he described as “divisive campaigns” to divert the focus of government from the critical questions raised by the Ogoni people and to exploit the opportunity to drive private interests.
Nsuke noted that MOSOP will under no circumstances be swayed to uphold private interests over the collective good of the Ogoni people.
