The Ogoni people have called on the Nigerian government to work to improve the human rights situation in the country. Chairman of the Kingdom Coordinators Forum of the Ogoni apex non-political organization, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Mr. Frank Jonah made the call in Port Harcourt today while speaking on Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
“Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat at the U.N security council will be premature at this time when the country cannot guarantee basic rights and freedom for her citizens especially indigenous groups like the Ogoni people.” he said. We are concerned that the country may not promote the cause for human rights across the globe if given such powers as permanent membership of the U.N Security Council, he said.
Frank Jonah said the deteriorating human rights situation in the country questions Nigeria’s claim to being a free society in the comity of nations and demands the country conform to civil and democratic standards before seeking a permanent seat at the United Nations.
He also called for the creation of a state for the Ogonis within Nigeria as a matter of urgency noting that despite the fact that Ogoniland has the resources which makes it more viable than at least 30 states in Nigeria today, Nigeria’s continues this deep rooted injustice against the demands for the right to self determination.
“Nigeria as currently structured promotes inequality, a situation where indigenous groups like the Ogoni who produce over 90 percent of the country’s foreign exchange are not allowed the right to live and exist as a distinct ethnic nationality with rights to self determination” he said.
He renewed the call for an end to the banana farm being embarked upon by the Rivers State government saying the government has shown incredible insensitivity to the dignity of human lives by continuing with a project that the people have protested against and which has led to the death of over 20 persons.
Frank Jonah also said Ogoni people will not discuss the issue of oil resumption until all demands in the “Ogoni Bill of Rights” are met.
The Nigerian state does not promote equality as presently structured. The MOSOP spokesman wants Nigeria to recognize the rights of the Ogoni people to self determination.
He further noted that the major ethnic groups in Nigeria are split into numerous states and the resources of minorities like the Ogoni people are shared among them while the regions like Ogoni are left to die without the basic right of recognition.
Source: OgoniNews