The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) has declared that it will not sign a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland until credible congresses are held across the four Ogoni local government areas of Rivers State.
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 enjoys broad acceptance.
The ODC has been engaging the Federal Government over plans to resume oil exploration in the area, but raised concerns on Monday about the government’s commitment to confidence-building measures.
It particularly urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate greater commitment to agreed development projects, including the construction of the Eleme section of the East-West Road.
The committee maintained that visible progress on the projects was essential to rebuilding trust and ensuring that the dialogue process produced an agreement supported by the Ogoni people.
The position was contained in resolutions reached at a meeting attended by 35 ODC members in Port Harcourt, where the committee reviewed the proposed MoU, ongoing consultations and efforts to resolve the longstanding Ogoni crisis.
Speaking after the meeting, the paramount ruler of Tai Kingdom and convener of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, Samuel Nnee, called on members to remain united to ensure the success of the dialogue.
Nnee commended President Tinubu for his efforts to resolve the Ogoni crisis and facilitate 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.
He described the engagement process as difficult but expressed optimism that patience, unity and cooperation would produce the desired outcome.
Similarly, the King of Eleme, Philip Obele, reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to unity and protecting the interests of all Ogoni communities.
He said the ODC would continue to consult widely to ensure that the proposed agreement reflected the collective interests of the people.
Obele stressed that the committee would not sign the MoU until credible congresses, approved by the ODC and organised by the elected council chairmen, had been conducted.
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 for the benefit of Nigeria and the Ogoni people.
He added that members had agreed to conclude the harmonisation of the proposed MoU in line with resolutions reached at their previous meeting.
Kii disclosed that the chairmen of the four Ogoni local government areas, who were assigned to sensitise and engage their communities ahead of the congresses, had reported significant progress.
He said the council chairmen were expected to complete the exercise within the timeline set by the committee, after which the harmonised MoU would be presented to the respective 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, Professor Innocent Barikor, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently resume the projects, particularly the abandoned Eleme section of the East-West Road.
Barikor said implementing the projects was crucial to restoring public confidence and demonstrating the government’s sincerity in the ongoing engagement.
He added that the Ogoni people needed tangible evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to the dialogue, noting that completing the projects would reassure communities about the potential benefits of the process.
