The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has dissociated from the planned solidarity visit to the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. A statement released today on its official Facebook page cautions against the use of the name of the ‘Ogoni Ethnic Nationality’ to achieve the selfish aims of Ogoni politicians, friends and allies of the Rivers State Governor.
The statement by MOSOP reads in full:
Attention of The Movement For the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has been drawn to a publication by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) purporting a planned solidarity visit to the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi by a group called the “Ogoni Ethnic Nationality”.
MOSOP wishes to make clear its position on this matter as follows:
1. On behalf of the Ogoni people, MOSOP dissociates from the planned visit. We wish to make clear that the steering committee of MOSOP has never met to decide on any visit to the Rivers State governor as such, MOSOP has no business with the planned visit.
2. MOSOP recognizes the right of Ogoni politicians, friends and allies of the Governor of Rivers State to associate. We however caution against muddling the entire Ogoni nationality with such private interests.
3. MOSOP urges all Ogonis, friends of the Ogoni and the international community to discountenance the outcome of any meeting between the governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and his Ogoni friends, politicians and business allies as it relates with the interest of the Ogoni people.
4. The Ogoni people have made clear their demands in the “Ogoni Bill of Rights” and have mandated MOSOP to speak on these issues with interested parties. We have presented this document to the Nigerian government and remain open for discussions.
Recall that the Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter Pastor Jerry Needam has informed the public of a planned visit by some Ogoni politicians to the Rivers State Governor to show solidarity in the face-off between the governor and the presidency.
Jerry Needam, had condemned the planned visit reasoning that the Ogoni people have no interest in a personal disagreement between the governor and the president.
The Ogoni people have been drawn in a long struggle with Shell Nigeria over environmental pollution in Ogoniland and compensation demands for the environmental devastation
Source: Ogoninews