From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
A Civil Society Organisation, under the aegis of Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI) has urged the Federal Government to reintegrate Ogoni refugees in Benin Republic and other countries of the world in the society.
This as the group has called for the immediate sack of the Environmental Minister and dissolution of HYPREP board over the alleged compromise in the Ogoni clean up exercise.
In a resolution arrived at a town hall meeting in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, the group which members comprises of representatives of oil bearing communities and non-oil producing communities in Ogoni, passed a vote of no confidence on the Minister and HYPREP Board.
President, Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Dr. Douglas Fabeke who spoke after the meeting, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to halt further payment to HYPREP, alleging that the agency has always misused the billions of naira released for the clean up.
He said, “Ever since the establishment of HYPRPEP, there is no single UNEP Report Recommendation that has been effectively implemented. All the impacted sites are still as it were.
Douglas Fabeke said it is worrisome that the Minister of Environment who is expected to take action against HYPREP has remained silent on the matter, despite her several visits to Ogoniland.
The President of Ogoni Liberation Initiative further cautioned Shell and any other companies who he said parade themselves in Ogoni communities, claiming to repair pipeline to stay clear from the oil facilities in any of the Ogoni communities.
He said the supreme court judgement on ownership of OML11 made it clear that Shell does not have any right to step on any of the oil site nor pipeline.
Fabeke said the organisation has taken a bold steps to recover all the blessings of the Ogoni people acting on the Ogoni Bill of Right presented to the Nigeria Government.
Someome of the points highlighted In the Final resolution before oil exploration could begin in Ogoniland, are that “There should be a clear master plan of environmental restoration and management; considering that all Host Communities are plagued with environmental degradation and pollution.
“That the cleanup exercise in Ogoniland is not in line with international standard and best practices, thus should be re-visited. The Federal Government of Nigeria should therefore partner with an International Agency to expedite actions and clean the land in line with the recommendations of UNEP as contained in the UNEP Report.
“There should be established in all the six Kingdoms of Ogoni, a clean drinkable water with water treatment plants of international standard as recommended by UNEP Report.
“There should be a reintegration of Ogoni refugees in Benin Republic and other countries in the world into the society through building of houses for them, empowerment and good welfare packages”.
“Resettlement of host communities that suffers high level of pollution, seeing that some of the oil wells are located in their homes thereby making their living so hazardous and dangerous to life”.
