MOSOP INDICTS SHELL OVER UNEASE IN OGONI

THE Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has alleged that the Anglo-Dutch super oil and gas major, Shell, was behind the current unease in Ogoni.

Its Information Officer, Bari-ara Kpalap, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday, said the Ogoni people are enraged at reports of renewed efforts by Shell to cause trouble in oil-bearing communities in the area especially Kegbara Dere under the guise of a clean up of polluted sites in the area.

According to him, ''information available to MOSOP has revealed that on January 20, 2009 Shell officials and contractors under the protective shield of heavily armed security operatives stormed the spill site surrounding Shell’s well 11 in Kegbara Dere in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. We were further told that local thugs wanted by the Police for multiple murder incidents and kidnapping; have been engaged to back them up''.

Continuing, he said, ''MOSOP considers this appalling corporate approach as not only provocative but also an insensitive declaration of war on the popular stance of the Federal Government, which in 2008 terminated its existence in Ogoni.

''Coming after December 31, 2008 when the Federal Government gave as the terminal date of Shell’s operations in Ogoni, a more responsible attitude would have been for Shell to have stayed clear of Ogoni in obedience to the federal authority’s order, and its refusal to so act smacks of a deliberate resort to undermining peace in the area as well as provoke the Ogoni people who just weeks ago were celebrating Shell’s departure from Ogoni.

''This is more so when taken against the backdrop  of the announcement that the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) process of auditing and cleaning up of the Ogoni environment, which is initiated and sponsored by Shell is soon about to commence. We are left with no conclusion than that the so-called planned clean up of not all of Ogoni but only K.Dere is but an underhand and sinister attempt to provoke and precipitate a parting crisis in Ogoni. 

''MOSOP is further concerned as we also have it on good authority that  prior to the present onslaught, Shell had recently disbursed N6million under the guise of a dubious contract to  Baridi Firi-Gberesuu and Sunday Badon, both of whom are wanted by the Police for murder, kidnapping and embezzlement for which they have become fugitives. We are of the view that this may be interesting to the law enforcement agencies and all those who hitherto have been curious about the source of revenue with which these and other militant elements purchase arms and ammunitions and perpetrate violence occasioning kidnapping and murder. In fact the sustained violence in Kegbara Dere, which has claimed many lives, has been traced to them.

''We would like to reiterate that, and in accordance with the Federal Government’s position, Shell’s relationship with Ogoni elapsed since 31 st December, 2008, therefore, its present act is gravely provocative. MOSOP wishes to warn the company and her collaborators to immediately desist from the unfriendly act as the Ogoni people will not fold its arms whilst our peace and interests are being undermined. MOSOP thus call on government, all lovers of peace and justice and the international community to hold Shell responsible for any break down of law and order in Ogoni in the event of further provocation by the oil major.

''In the light of the foregoing, an emergency Ogoni National Congress is being called to chart appropriate approach to tackling the renewed onslaught by Shell''.