Ogoni traditional rulers demand role in oil resumption talks

Traditional rulers in Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to include them in the ongoing discussions on the planned resumption of oil exploration in their area.

The monarchs from oil-bearing communities in Ogoniland said they are not against the efforts to resume oil drilling in their domain; however, they should be fully involved in the process.

Gathering under the aegis of ‘Paramount Rulers of Ogoni Oil and Gas Bearing Host Communities’, they disclosed this at a news briefing in Ogale Town in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Ogale Eleme, HRH, Godwin Bebe-Ukpabi, (Oneh En Nchia X), who read the resolution signed by 23 Ogoni monarchs, urged the Federal Government to begin the process of engaging with the traditional rulers in the communities.

Ukpabi applauded the Renewed Hope Agenda and commitment of the President Bola Tinubu led the federal government on the formation of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee to man the proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

While reiterating that the chiefs are not against the functions of ODC, he said it was the right time for the government to also engage with the oil bearing communities directly, saying Ogoni has 118 communities, but of that number only 18 are oil bearing.

The monarch emphasised that it is time for Chiefs, traditional rulers and leaders of the oil bearing communities to discuss with the appropriate authorities

Note further that these Oil Bearing Communities have borne the heaviest brunt of oil exploitation and exploration in Ogoniland with the attendant bouts of oil spills, destruction of biodiversity, affecting agricultural outputs and driving into extinction many species of her aquatic life and obvious environmental challenges, preventable poverty, diseases and deaths,

“We urge you (Tinubu) therefore, that at this stage of ongoing discussions on the implementation of the blue print couched out the wisdom of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee recommendation with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Paramount Rulers of the Oil bearing Host communities be involved and carried along in the scheme of things.

“We, therefore, most respectfully request an audience of the Paramount Rulers of the Ogoni Oil Bearing Host Communities with your esteemed Office to enable a constructive dialogue and legal consultation on the modalities for implementation with a view to averting potential disputes, promoting transparency and securing Host Communities cooperation.”

Also speaking, Prof Samuel Nwiideeduh, passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of PROOGBHC, noting that the essence of the call was to avoid issues that led to the developments in Ogoni.

“We pass a vote of confidence on our leader, His Royal Highness, saying that everything he has said is our stand.

“Why we are making this call now is to avoid a repeat of what happened many years ago in Ogoniland. It was chaotic. We want all of those issues to be handled,” Nwiideeduh stated.

Our correspondent reports that the Ogoni Dialogue Committee was led by the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Don Baridam had since submitted its report to President Tinubu after meeting with various stakeholder groups on the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni.

Culled from punch