The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says the dialogue opportunity offered by the Office of the National Security (ONSA) to resolve the Ogoni conflicts could be a turning point for the Ogoni people to resolve over 33 years of conflicts with the Nigerian oil industry.
MOSOP called on the Ogoni people to give the Ogoni dialogue initiative coordinated by the ONSA a chance to succeed.
The President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, who spoke on Sunday at a meeting of MOSOP leaders in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said the ongoing dialogue process significantly departs from previous approaches of the government and deserve to be tested.
Nsuke noted that the current approach is people-centred and commended the ONSA for the initiative.
He urged the general public to discountenance all self-centred attempts to derail the progress recorded so far, noting that the focus of everyone should be on mutual benefits for the Ogoni people.
He said MOSOP has strongly insisted only on collective benefits that represent the sacrifices of the Ogoni people.
He further noted that at this time, MOSOP has given its support to the ongoing dialogue process and will be patient to see the outcome of the process.
He condemned what he described as divisive campaigns to divert the focus of government from the critical questions raised by the Ogoni people and to exploit the opportunity to drive private interests.
Nsuke noted that MOSOP will under no circumstances be swayed to uphold private interests over the collective good of the Ogoni people.
He said: “The Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, collectively fought to secure a future for our people.
“Whatever will be the benefits of the struggles should also be for the good of all Ogoni.
“Whoever wants to own an oil company should register with the CAC and not attempt to shortchange Ogoni interests.
“I urge Ogoni people to rise in defence of their costly struggles.
“We have an opportunity to discuss mutual benefits and MOSOP will strongly back a mutually beneficial settlement from ongoing dialogue.”
