Prince of Kuwait, Yousef Ahmod, representing the King of Kuwait, King Sheikh Ahmod, during a visit of Team Global Investors at the palace of King Godwin Giniwa, the Gbenemene of Tai in Ogoni kingdom.
From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
A non governmental organisation, Ogoni Liberation Initiative, has urged the Federal Government to consider the establishment of contaminated oil management centre in Ogoniland in Rivers State, a way of attracting development to the area.
President of the organization, Dr. Douglas Fabeke, made the call in a communique issued at the end of Ogoni world economic development summit tagged “Ogoni Economic Recovery, Industrial Development, Investment “at Bori in Ogoni land.
According to Fabeke, the economic resources of Ogoni land should be well managed and utilized for the economic development of the people.
“We the undersigned stakeholders and leaders of Ogoni land, on behalf of the good people of Ogoni in the Niger Delta Region, unanimously resolve our positions at the end of the conference that the decayed and polluted environment should be comprehensively cleaned up, restored and continually managed from further degradation.
“That the decades of spills and pollutions caused by oil exploration and exploitation of our peoples health have been grounded thus there is an urgent need for the commencement of health audit in Ogoni land and subsequent establishment of medical research institute.
“That the Ogoni people are ready to participate in all forms of business with the State and Federal Government, as well as International Corporations for the development of our land, provided the business is anchored upon Ogoni development”, the communique stated.
The summit had presence of global investors from Nigeria, Kuwait, Turkey, Dubai, United states of America(USA), Canada, Japan among others.
Speaking on behalf of the Team of Global Investors, Mr Steven Barreru, stated that environmental pollution is a crime to humanity, stressing that punishment should be melted to those involved in the pollution.
Barreru, said that the basic thing the team would do is to start with the cleaning of water in Ogoni land, and immediately draw portable water wells in each communities in Ogoni land,
He disclosed that there would be training programmes for the youths, building of medical clinics in each village, improvement of tschools and recreational centers for the communities, urging the Ogoni people to support the company to achieve these goals.
In his response, king Godwin Giniwa, the leader of supreme council of Ogoni traditional rulers of Ogoni kingdom, on behalf of the traditional rulers of Ogoni kingdom commended the team of global investors for their plans and pledged their support to the development of Ogoni land.
Giniwa who is also the Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom, assured the team of safety and peaceful environment as they work, urging the youths to also support the team for the development of Ogoni land, while receiving a boat gift from Sheikh Ahmod, the king of Kuwait who was represented by Yousef Ahmod, the prince of Kuwait.
