There are strong indications that the Ogonis and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) may engage in a renewed hostilities following what the Ogonis called SPDC’s attempt to pitch some group of Ogonis against the people in order to resume oil production in their land.
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), after its steering committee meeting in Port Harcourt yesterday, said it was “outraged by confirmed reports of renewed attempts by Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) to commence oil activities without any agreement with the Ogoni people.
Their actions have already led to two activists, Mr. Amebeobari Dabo and Mr. Ollorwi Dabo being shot at Ebubu-Eleme, and an increase in tension across the whole region. MOSOP in its statement signed by Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, Information Officer; after a closed door meeting further noted that; “In Korokoro, Kwawa, Buan, Kpean, Teenama and K.Dere communities, Shell is attempting to activate its oil wells, pipelines, manifolds and flow stations under the protection of Joint Task Force (JTF) and recruited thugs.
The resistance against her unwelcome activities including pitching our people against themselves in an attempt to resume oil production in Ogoni has led to threat to lives and other conflicts that have inflicted pains on innocent people and the MOSOP leadership”. “The moves that SPDC has made in the last couple of days are incontrovertible steps in resuming oil operations.
Shell has for three years stated that it is not interested in resuming oil operations without the consent of the Ogoni people. Yet today, despite a failing peace process we are seeing specific steps being undertaken by force to resume oil operations,” MOSOP further hinted.
Niger Delta STANDARD gathered that MOSOP has however called on Shell to immediately stop the onslaught; warning that the company would be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the area “as the development provocatively assaulted our collective interest and threatens peace in our communities”.
A reliable source told Niger Delta STANDARD that in a bid to forestall possible loss of its operational license in Ogoni land, SPDC allegedly has started adopting a divideand- rule strategy with the aim of pitching one group against the other, which is reminiscent of the preexecution event of the Ogoni sons in 1994/1995. This recent development, he further said, the Ogonis would resist in its entirety through every legal means at their disposal.