MOSOP to Ogonis: NSA’s dialogue initiative is fine opportunity to move forward — ITREALMS

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on the Ogoni people to place their trust in the ongoing dialogue process coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), headed by Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as a fine opportunity to achieve a permanent resolution to the long-standing Ogoni crisis, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking on Saturday at Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people, MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke, emphasized that after 33 years of a costly resistance against the Nigerian oil industry, it has become necessary to embrace the Federal Government’s peace initiative. He noted that the government’s decision to initiate direct discussions represents a welcome departure from previous initiatives, which were largely based on impositions.

Nsuke strongly condemned attempts by certain factions—whom he accused of benefiting from the Ogoni crisis—to truncate the work of the dialogue committee in order to sustain their personal patronage and sponsorship.


"There is an attempt by people who do not have a life outside MOSOP to scuttle the work of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee," Nsuke stated. "We have been in this for 33 years and the government has opened discussions with the Ogoni people at this moment through the Ogoni Dialogue Committee. We are saying that this is a fine opportunity to resolve this problem, and therefore MOSOP is cooperating with the process because we want an end to this problem. We want a solution; we want Ogoni to move forward towards proper development."

He cautioned Ogoni citizens against allowing self-interested groups to undermine the process:

"People who do not have a life outside MOSOP are attempting to scuttle the dialogue process because they want to continue to exploit the pains of the Ogoni people to keep us in this state, because it feeds them and their families," he said. "What I am telling Ogoni people is that it's time; something that began decades ago must also have an end."

Addressing questions regarding a purported leadership crisis within MOSOP, Nsuke clarified that a court of competent jurisdiction had previously nullified the election of Prince Biira Wai-Ogosu, affirming that there is no crisis in the organization's leadership.

"I was properly elected at the MOSOP Secretariat on December 19, 2018, and I remain President of MOSOP," Nsuke declared. "The matter was taken to court and we are now on appeal. Until the court decides my case, or we constitute a proper Steering Committee for elections, I remain President of MOSOP, and that is the fact about it."

He went on to say that the Steering Committee of MOSOP has resolved that until all pending legal issues are fully addressed and fresh elections are properly conducted, the current executive council will remain in office to guide the movement.

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