The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People says events to mark the 17th anniversary celebrations of the murder of nine Ogoni leaders in 1995 will be celebrated by families and in villages to avoid the danger of attacks against MOSOP activists which has become common in recent times.
A statement made available to Ogoninews by the MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators Forum reads:
“We note that in recent times, Shell and their agents have launched attacks on MOSOP meetings at Beeri in Nyokhana in September and at Kpor in Gokana in October 2012. The statement said a candle night procession will hold tonight, November 9, and prayers are to be held in families and Churches tomorrow November 10.
The statement called on all Ogoni people to sit at home to express their displeasure over current persecution and increasing incursions of Shell into the Ogoni area while MOSOP activists increasingly come under attack by agents of Shell.
The statement continues: “MOSOP having considered the risk of an attack on MOSOP gatherings is notifying all Ogoni people that the usual celebration of the Ogoni Martyrs day will take place in the villages. We note that the current situation is not far from the experiences under the military when MOSOP members were denied every right of association.
The statement also condemned the current juicy relationship between the MOSOP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Prof. Ben Naanen and Shell. Citing a recent communication between the Caretaker Committe Chairman and Shell contained in a letter dated October 22nd 2012 and coded with account number 31300355, the statement noted that MOSOP members know nothing about meetings and discussions between the Caretaker Committee and Shell.
The statement noted in particular, the silence of the Caretaker Committee over the recent killing of Ogoni people of Sogho in Nyokhana by the Rivers State Government and the attacks on MOSOP [Coordinators] in Sogho and Kpor in September and October respectively.
The MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators are constitutionally recognised as Vice Presidents of MOSOP and coordinates MOSOP activities at the community levels in Ogoni.
As at press time, the Caretaker Committee has not reacted to the allegations.
On November 10 1995, 9 Ogoni activists including Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, and John Kpuinen were gruesomely hanged by the Nigerian government after a military trial without any right of appeal.
In reaction to the hangings, former British Prime Minister described the hangings as judicial murder, former Nigeria’s External Affairs Minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi called it “state murder”. As a consequence, Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth for two years and forced to democratize.
Shell had since withdrawn from the Ogoni area in 1993 and had promised not to return without a concrete agreement with Ogoni people.
Source: OgoniNews
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