By Douglas Blessing
The governorship candidates of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Rivers State, Leyii Kwanee, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES) have insisted on need for a proper environmental management of the Ogoni natural resources.
They made the call in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Ogoni Day celebration held in Bori, headquarters of Khana local government area of Rivers.
Legborsi Pyagbara, Executive Director, AIFES, is seeking for a new economic structure that ensures the use of a fair proportion of Ogoni economic resources for Ogoni development
He demanded for a proper environmental management of Ogoni natural resources, stressing that “A sincere government engagement with Ogoni can demonstrate it is possible to address injustice and engender a sense of national healing”.
The former MOSOP President further called on key players in the oil industry to promote alternative sustainable energy sources saying, “as a key climate change response solution, we are partnering with some investors to bring in a-10mw solar powered energy to the city of Bori”.
In his statement, the ZLP guber candidate, advised that “31 years after the Ogoni Bill of Rights was launched, what we must do next to protecting our oil; our environment; our rights; our people; our heritage; and our future is to consciously and deliberately work on developing an easily enforceable Ogoni Charter of Equity”.
He noted that democracy does not exist where laws do not protect minorities, and called for the control and use of Ogoni economic resources for Ogoni development.
Meanwhile, President of MOSOP, Prince Biira, said between January and March, 2023, Ogoni ethnic nationality would demand from HYPREP how much it has received and spent as concerns the clean up of their polluted environment.
Biira also faulted the use of their kinsmen in the federal agency to divide Ogoni people, assuring that their area would continue to attract investors.
He said: “Between now and March, will demand accountability from HYPREP on the $2 billion clean up funds; how much has been released and spent.
According to him, in the past 30 years, not much has changed as the Ogoni people still face the same degree of discrimination and repression which have inhibited them from having access to freedom.
