The Executives of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) on Thursday, unreservedly dissociate it self from any ongoing protest at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.
In a press statement signed by Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel President, National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) and President General, Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Council and the Secretary General, Kaabe Barisi Kenneth they said;
“Protest is only necessary when all grounds of settlement or reaching resolution has failed.
There was never an occasion that our attention was drawn to concerning any misgivings in Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project’s (HYPREP’s) Office, complaining of the inadequacy of the Coordination Office or its official.
Innocent and unsuspecting widows and youths were mobilized all the way from Ogoni land to Abuja under the guise that the Honourable Minister for Environment, Barr. Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, called for an audience with them, especially the widows of Ogoni 9; but on arrival they were forced into carrying placards and demonstrating in front of the Ministry as protesters.
This is so absurd, considering the current socio-political situation the country is facing, the difficulty travelling
on road from the south to Abuja and risk faced on such journey.
We want to bring to the notice of all security agencies, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the Federal Ministry of Environment that those parading themselves as Ogoni Youths are individuals sponsored by disaffected and dissatisfied contractors or those who think gaining contracts at the expense of poor Ogoni People is their birth right.
We are aware of their deceits. The crowd as seen on various videos shared on several social media handles, showed a majority of Youths from the Kalabari extraction, especially Abonnema, carrying placards, chanting and parading themselves as Ogoni youths, this is high level of impersonation!
We call on sponsors of this fake protest to desist from this act forthwith. Never should anyone drag the name of Ogoni to the mud, no one has the sole right of acquiring contracts at his will and when desired. HYPREP is here to serve the good people of Ogoni land and would at an appropriate time extend their services to other parts of the Niger Delta.
We call on our dear respected leaders of the Kalabari Ethnic Nationality, especially those from Abonnema to warn their sons not to interfere in Ogoni matters. Ogoni need peace and the quasi peace we are beginning to witness should be sustained”, the state added.
