The Ogoni Youth Council (OYC) has accused the federal government of playing politics with the planned clean up of the devastated Ogoni environment as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The group said the postponement of the date of the commencement of the clean up exercise is an indication that the federal government is speaking from both sides of its jaw.
OYF in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday by it’s president, Comrade Yamaabana Legborsi, wondered why a clean up exercise earlier billed to commence in August 2018, was shifted to October 2018. The statement reads in part, “OYF recalls that the minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril and the HYPREP project coordinator, Marvin Dekil promised to commence the Ogoni clean up in August, 2018 but turned around at the 2nd stakeholders meeting held on 4th August, 2018 in Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt by shifting the commencement month to October, 2018. “This is a clear case of double standard and speaking from both sides of the mouth and heights of insincerity on the part of the federal government and HYPREP.
“It is worrisome that over two years after the flag off of the clean up exercise, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, (HYPREP) under Marvin Dekil had continued to deceive the people with rhetoric, rather than carrying out the actual cleanup process. “Not even the emergency measures, such as provision of clean portable water and medical evaluation and treatment for the Ogoni people and establishment of key institutions for the clean up exercise have been carried out, rather the federal government is only concerned about oil production resumption in Ogoniland.
“The federal government had continued to use the Ogoni cleanup as a platform for political marketing, without putting anything on ground to justify its commitment. “In conclusion, OYF reiterates its commitment to institute civil/legal action against the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Restoration Project (HYPREP), explain and make public how the first tranche of the $10 million released to it for the commencement of environmental clean up and remediation of oil polluted sites was spent.”
Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2018/08/09/ogoni-youths-accuse-fg-of-playing-politics-with-clean-up/
