The Congress of Ogoni People has said the Ogoni people will be forced to seek for their self-determination and political autonomy, should Bori State not be included in the list of new states being proposed at the ongoing national conference in Abuja.
The congress, while describing the debate on resource control and oil derivation as insensitive and needless, also demanded 100 per cent control for oil producing communities.
Delegates at the national conference had engaged in a hot debate on the issue of resource control, with those from the South-South, voting for an upward review of the current 13 per cent derivation, while majority of their northern counterparts were vehemently opposed to the proposal.
The above was contained in a communiqué issued in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, at the end of a general congress of the Ogoni people, including the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
The communiqué, signed by MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara, reads, “Congress reiterates that anything short of Bori State inclusion will force the Ogoni people to seek other ways of expressing their right to self-determination and political autonomy.”
The congress insisted that oil producing areas should enjoy a total control of their resources while taxes should be paid to the Federal Government, and also frowned at the continued failure of the government to implement UNEP Environmental Report on Ogoniland.
“The Congress further reiterated that it stands by earlier position of MOSOP that communities should be given 100 per cent control over their resources and pay the necessary taxes to the Federal Government.”
“The Congress condemned the stunning and continuing failure of the Federal Government to set up a proper process for the implementation of the recommendations of the environmental study of Ogoniland.”
“It called on the Ogoni people to join the non-violent protest being organised by MOSOP to demonstrate the anger of the Ogoni people against the Federal government’s stance.
Source: NigerianTribune
