The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) has declared that it will not sign the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Rivers State, until credible congresses are held across the four Ogoni local government areas.
The committee said the congresses were necessary to secure the consent and confidence of the Ogoni people and ensure that any agreement reached with the Federal Government enjoyed widespread legitimacy.
The position was contained in resolutions reached at a meeting of 35 ODC members in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday.
The meeting reviewed the proposed MoU, ongoing consultations and efforts to resolve the lingering Ogoni crisis, while raising concerns about the Federal Government’s commitment to confidence-building measures.
The committee urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to demonstrate greater commitment to the dialogue process, particularly through the construction of the Eleme section of the East-West Road.
It maintained that visible development projects were crucial to rebuilding trust and reassuring the Ogoni people of the government’s sincerity.
Speaking after the meeting, the paramount ruler of Tai Kingdom, Samuel Nnee, who is also the convener and coordinator of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, called for unity among committee members to ensure the success of the dialogue.
Nnee commended President Tinubu for his commitment to resolving the Ogoni crisis and facilitating the resumption of oil exploration in the area.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi.
“The engagement process has been painstaking and difficult, but we are hopeful that with patience, unity and cooperation, the desired results will be achieved,” he said.
Similarly, the King of Eleme, Philip Obele, reaffirmed the committee’s determination to remain united and protect the interests of all Ogoni communities.
He said the ODC would continue to pursue genuine consultations to ensure that the proposed agreement reflected the collective interests of the people.
“We assure all our members and our people that we promise to unite and keep the ODC together. We shall serve our people through adequate consultations, sincere effort and produce an MoU that will serve the interest of all and sundry in Ogoniland.
“We shall not sign any MoU unless and until we have held credible and authentic congresses as approved by the ODC, organised and hosted by our elected council chairmen,” Obele stated.
Also speaking, the Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt and Senior Lecturer at Rivers State University, Rev. Monsignor Pius Kii, said the committee had resolved to support the Federal Government’s efforts to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland for the benefit of Nigeria and the Ogoni people.
He disclosed that members had also agreed to conclude the harmonisation of the proposed MoU in line with resolutions reached at their previous meeting.
Kii said the chairmen of the four Ogoni local government areas, who were tasked with sensitising and consulting their respective communities ahead of the congresses, had reported significant progress.
According to him, the council chairmen are expected to complete the assignment within the timeline set by the committee, after which the harmonised MoU will be presented to the various local government congresses for consideration.
However, the committee expressed concern over the suspension of work on confidence-building projects previously agreed upon as part of the proposed MoU.
A member of the ODC, Prof. Innocent Barikor, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently resume the projects, particularly the abandoned Eleme section of the East-West Road.
Barikor said the implementation of the projects was essential to restoring public confidence and demonstrating the government’s sincerity in the ongoing dialogue.
He stressed that the Ogoni people needed tangible evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to the process, adding that completing the projects would reassure communities of the potential benefits of the engagement.
The committee maintained that the resumption of oil exploration must be based on an inclusive and transparent process, with the acceptance of the Ogoni people serving as a critical condition for any final agreement.
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