CSO’s Aligns With Ogoni Women Against Oil Resumption.
Katherine Abayomi, Port Harcourt
For decades, Ogoniland emerged as a focal area within Nigeria’s growing oil economy, contributing major revenues to the country’s economy. Unfortunately, the benefits from oil resources have not reached the Ogoni people, particularly women, in any significant measure. Rather, Ogoni women and their communities have for decades borne the impacts of the industry’s adverse activities.
A military operation was initiated in Ogoniland, a move that resulted in mass killings and the eventual execution of environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and 6 others in 1995 after the recommendations of a stage-managed trial.
The Ogoni’s stand by this and refuse vermenantly the ongoing frenzy to resume oil extraction in Ogoniland they demand that concerns raised in the Bill of Rights which led to the termination of oil extraction and the repression of the people, should be addressed, Nigeria security forces, the person involved in the acts of genocide should be brought to book, secure justice for the families affected and the recommendations of the UNEP report should be fully complied.
While in an address they expressed their displeasure stating
“We, the Ogoni women are deeply concerned about the neglect of key issues around ecological and social justice in Ogoniland. The world recognizes that we have suffered unprecedented pains and loses on account of oil extraction.”
They further stated that no apology has been given for the destruction, killings of their people, loss of livelihoods, destruction of the environment, forced exile, and murder of their leaders, and they demand answers, justice, and compensation for these.
The group stated that to assume that the extraction of oil can commence whilst these issues remain on the front burner, is to be naïve at best and cruel .
They recommend that the government should put a stop to any planned attempt to resume oil activities in Ogoniland and instead concentrate on redeeming the ecological disaster in the area, decommissioning aged oil infrastructure, replacing the lost livelihood of the people and securing justice for the countless Ogonis waiting for closure.
The demands was signed by Non governmental organisation namely:
Mba Okase Initiative, Eleme, Eedee Ladies of Tai , De Voice of Eleme Women Association, League of Queens Intl, Gbogbia Feefeelo Women, Lekeh Foundation , We The People
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre ,Glocal Concern Women and Youth Development Initiative,Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative, Concern Ogoni Daughter ,Peoples Advancement Centre , Ogoni Women Coalition for Sustainable Environment
OWERDI , Yerebaneko Women Group of Tai , Ogoni Women Development Initiative, Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA).
