Posted by Ayo Olesin, Port Harcourt on
The Federal Government-sponsored peace initiative to end the 12 year-old dispute between oil and gas major, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria may crash as the Ogonis have accused the company of using unclear tactics.
The Federal Government-sponsored peace initiative to end the 12 year-old dispute between oil and gas major, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria may crash as the Ogonis have accused the company of using unclear tactics.
Shell has, however, denied the allegations, stressing that it remained committed to reconciliation with the Ogoni People of Rivers State.
Movment for the Survival of the Ogoni People, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, had claimed that Shell's familiarisation tour of the communitis without proper consultations with other stakeholders, was an attempt to divide the Ogoni, using community development projects as bait.
The statement signed by MOSOP Information Officer, Bari-ara Kpalap, said that while the communities were awaiting further information from the government on the peace process, 'Shell's current stance compromises the company's commitment to the reconciliatory project."
MOSOP maintained that the devastation that had been inflicted on the Ogoni people remains 'an open wound and if Shell does not immediately put an end to its destabilsing activities in Ogoni, we will have no other choice than to review our position."
Reacting to MOSOP allegations, Shell officials said in Port Harcourt on Thursday, that the company would do everything to ensure the success of the reconciliation.
They said that the company was committed to working with the Kukah Committee, the Federal and Rivers State governments to ensure that lasting peace is achieved and sustained in Ogoniland.
They pointed out that the process was well structured and a positive outcome would be in the interest of all stakeholders.
They said that the so-called divide-and-rule tactics referred to by the MOSOP could have been as a result of a misunderstanding about the intention of the company, which they stressed, was to ensure that the process sailed through, resume operations and carry out sustainable development programmes.
Shell's operations in Ogoniland were halted in January 1993 by Ogoni communities, which alleged that the company's operation was polluting, their environment without adequate compensation.
The ensuing crises led to a chain of events that culminated in the execution of the Ogoni's spokesman and writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995, on a murder conviction widely regarded as orchestrated by the military regime of late Gen, Sani Abacha.
Shell's production closed in in Ogoni is estimated at 150,000 barrels per day.