The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) says, the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the cleanup of oil pollution of Ogoni land is not the only solution to Ogoni’s problem.
The MOSOP president, Mr Legborsi Piagbara, who said this in a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, said that the UNEP report is just an aspect of the Ogoni Bill of Right (OBR).
He said that, while the Ogoni want the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to implement the report, other aspects of the bill of right must also be implemented to give the people greater political freedom.
According to the MOSOP president, the people of the four Ogoni local government areas are actually feeling the impact of the environmental pollution and will want the incoming administration to address it adding that a letter to this effect has been sent to General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
Mr Piagbara however, said that aside from the issue of cleanup, it is the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a new political arrangement that would enable them to realise what he calls the “Ogoni Agenda.”
He specifically urged the incoming administration to embark on the restructuring of Nigeria through devolution of powers and the creation of additional state for the people to express their own political aspirations.
Mr Piagbara said that it is the only way the Nigerian state would be paying back the Ogonis from the many years of environmental degradation and marginalization.
He however, expressed the readiness of the people to work with the relevant authorities to ensure the success of the UNEP report implementation.
Source: The TideNewspaper
