Don’t Speak Or Act For Ogoni, MOSOP Warns Group ~ Nigerian News : 28/01/2018

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni Individuals (MOSOP) has declared its the only genuine pan-Ogoni organisation recognised by the citizens to speak and act on their behalf.

MOSOP’s warning was on the heels of a current advertorial credited to a group, called Ken Saro Wiwa Associate (KSWA) against its (MOSOP) thriving engagement with an oil firm, Robomichael Restricted.

A statement issued yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the Media Advisor to the movement, Bari-ala Kpalap, described the report as "alarming and unfortunate."

The statement additional warned persons and groups seeking relevance for economic considerations, to leave the "revered and well-known name of Ken Saro Wiwa and other fallen Ogoni heroes" out of their interests.

"MOSOP has, as a result, named on the Ogoni individuals, the authorities and the public to discountenance the so-named opinions and threats by the stated KSWA, as the stance in no way represents the position of our individuals.

"MOSOP has, as effectively, cautioned the Ogonis not to permit themselves to be applied as quick tools in the hands of external enemies masking as messiahs, but obviously bent on frustrating the Ogoni dream.

"While we recognise the correct of citizens to freedom of expression, we insist that this liberty in no way involve misguided and misleading reports.

"The report, undoubtedly, betrayed ineptness and improperly believed via. It is in the light of the foregoing that we advise the authors of the stated advertorial (Ken Saro Wiwa Associates) to exercise caution and know-how-primarily based methodology in responding to troubles, specially the query of oil extraction as it relates to Ogoni.

"However, MOSOP is aware of the intent of the advertorial. Coming on the heels of the thriving engagement involving Robomichael Restricted and MOSOP, and the failed try by the coordinator of KSWA to frustrate the meeting, has left no a single in doubt about the adversarial motives that drove KSWA’s approach.

"The deliberate attempt to misinform and mislead unsuspecting Ogonis and other interests, including the public, as properly as the messianic tilt of the report, was meant to drive public opinion in its favour, which would influence the authorities to negotiate and accept their sponsors. Surely, the voice is Jacob’s when the hand is Esau’s.

"Facts abound that in its work to impact broad-primarily based consultation and obtain the people’s social licence to operate and create the Ogoni oil fields of OML 11, Robomichael Restricted wrote letters, dated October 20 and November 7, 2017, respectively, in search of audience with MOSOP.

"The engagement was held on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the MOSOP secretariat in Port Harcourt. In the course of the meeting, the firm announced its intension to seek the advice of extensively and solicited MOSOP’s guidance.

"Robomichael Restricted also applied the engagement to formally introduce the corporation and presented, articulately, its approaches to make sure sufficient participation of the Ogoni individuals in the investment as effectively as the improvement of the region.

"It committed to devoting a affordable percentage of the investment to the community, and this would be deposited and managed by a trust fund to be membered by Ogoni representatives and officials of the firm," Kpalap mentioned in the statement.

According to the movement, a five-member committee, headed by Prof. Ben Naanen, was set up to create a template, which would be presented to investors interested in investing in Ogoni.

The committee, MOSOB stated, was provided 14 days to turn in its report to the organisation for consideration.

"The approach of KSWA, undoubtedly, suggests unhappiness that Robomichael Restricted engaged MOSOP.

"As of reality, MOSOP is the only reputable pan-Ogoni organisation mandated by the individuals to speak and act on their behalf. Evidence abound that no other organisation has such mandate in Ogoni. Hence, these acting without having mandate are unquestionably on their own.

"As a knowledgeable and law-abiding organisation, MOSOP is conscious of its limits. We know that the Ogoni individuals have correct to social licence and we would make sure that this proper is protected and utilised to the collective benefit of all Ogoni citizens."