Omiete Blessing
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) has expressed delight over the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s government to ensure that the requests of the people of Ogoni are met and the reopening of oil exploration in the area.
President of NYCOP, Emmanuel Barinuazor made the commendation on Sunday, during a press conference by a coalition of youth groups, in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Nigerian Xpress recalled that last week, during a visit of Ogoni delegation to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu assured that his administration will provide lasting answer to the Ogoni un-answered questions.
Speaking on the theme of the conference: “Addressing the Ogoni Issues and Mobilising Support for Economic Rebirth in Ogoni Land”, the NYCOP President said they are in support of the move by the President to end the long suffering of Ogoni people.
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Barinuazor said the visit to the president was purely traditional, adding that no politicians from the state was among the delegate to avoid politicising the move.
Emmanuel explained that the aim of the conference was to “review the situation of the Ogoni people within the Nigerian Federation, bearing in mind the current socio-economic, socio-political realities, the need to mobilise support and social license for economic rebirth in Ogoni”.
The NYCOP President said the socio-economic conditions of Ogoni people have significantly deteriorated as a result of systematic repression, marginalisation, neglect, and underdevelopment imposed upon communities by successive government administrations.
He regretted that the leadership gap created in Ogoni that led to the killing of their leaders, including the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others by the General Sani Abacha’s military regime.
“I am among the delegate that visited President Bola Tinubu at the Villa in Abuja. It was one of the best because it was pure natural, traditional visit. We didn’t go with politicians because they have in the past years disappointed us.
“The delegation was pure on Ogoni people’s over 30 years of request. Don’t allow these people to divide you. Mr. President has assured us that our Oil will be operated by Ogoni people to ameliorate the age-long suffering of the people,” he said.
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He added: “To put the records straight, Ogoni youths embraced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ameliorate the age-long suffering of Ogoni people in our quest to provide lasting answer to the Ogoni un-answered questions”.
He said the Ogoni Youths Stakeholders trust President Tinubu, his message and plans for Ogoni economic rebirth, stressing that the president has the comprehensive idea about the evolution of the Ogoni struggle as their supporter in the NADECO Pro-Democratic movement.
On his part, an Ogoni activist, High Chief Solomon Ndigbara explained that the Ogoni delegation to the Presidency was not for personal interest but to inform him of the Ogoni message of liberation, calling on the youths to remain calm.
“Let everybody be at peace, people have been going to the Villa without any message. We didn’t go there for money, we went there to talk about the struggle and we promise you that we will do things that politicians couldn’t do in Ogoniland,” he said.
Meanwhile, a leader of Ex-Agitators in Niger Delta, Mr Nature Kieghe advised Ogoni youths to unit for the success of the struggle. He also called on Ogoni leaders to accept the message of the traditional rulers that visited the president.
