Posted by By Okon Bassey, Port Harcourt on
Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) yesterday reiterated its position and preparedness for a credible process of dialogue on the possibility of reconciliation between the Federal Government, Shell and the Ogoni people.
Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) yesterday reiterated its position and preparedness for a credible process of dialogue on the possibility of reconciliation between the Federal Government, Shell and the Ogoni people.
"The position of the Ogoni people has also been in favour of peaceful dialogue which recognises the need for sincere consideration of the human and environmental impacts of oil exploitation in our area.
President of MOSOP, Ledum Mitee said this at this year's Ogoni Day held yesterday at the Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, in Khana Local government area of the state.
According to him, "our position of peaceful advocacy dates back to repeated efforts to present the Ogoni Bill of Rights to the Federal Government since 1990.
He said they are agreeing to dialogue under ground rules of good behavior which guarantees integrity of the process, no pre-determined outcome all facilitated by a credible third party.
"Our minimum expectation is that with this agreement there will be no activity which relates to oil production within Ogoni, which falls outside the process of dialogue and consultation.
Mitee said Shell's current tendency of using clean-up of oil spills to generate crisis is wholly unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has donated the sum of N20 million for the building of Ogoni Peace and Freedom Centre to represent the struggle of the Ogoni people.
Governor Peter Odili while making the donation said it was remarkable for the Ogoni people to remember their heroes.