The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has described democracy without human rights as cosmetic and deceptive. MOSOP made the declaration on itsFacebook page yesterday. MOSOP called on the Nigerian government to take as a priority, respect for the rights of small indigenous groups like the Ogoni whose resources had been carted away by big multinationals with the approval of the government.
The statement by MOSOP demanded that the Nigerian government takes the right to a safe environment be taken seriously.
MOSOP in the statement demanded a transparent clean-up of Ogoniland.
MOSOP in the statement also demanded that the right to self determination for the Ogoni people as contained in the “Ogoni Bill of Rights” be respected by the Nigerian government.
The statement concludes “We urge Nigeria to move out of current deceptive shell, admit and correct its flaws regarding failure to respect the rights of the Ogoni people.”
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has campaigned internationally against the destructive activities of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell) in Ogoniland.
In 2011, the United Nations released a reporting highlighting the dangers to environmental and human health occasioned by years of pollution in Ogoniland. The report is yet to be implemented by the Nigerian government.
Source: OgoniNews