MOSOP accuses Nigeria of insincerity in Ogoni cleanup

• Okowa lists benefits of maritime varsity

The President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara has accused the Federal Government of insincerity in the Ogoni cleanup.

Pyagbara spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, while reacting to the moves by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Shell to resume exploration in Ogoni.

He said government’s efforts to resume oil exploration without the cleanup were indications that it was deceiving the people.According to him: “While the cleanup has not even taken place, they are talking of oil production in Ogoniland. That is why we are drawing the attention of the whole world to the fact that this government has not been sincere to us.

“It is against the recommendations of the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP). If they were sincere, they would have completed the cleanup before any other action.”

He lamented that the exercise is still at the institution building level, which is the stage of sensitisation.“We are also having a strong feeling that this may be a ploy to generate crisis in the area to use it as an excuse to avoid the cleanup,” he said.

The MOSOP leader urged the Federal Government to explain to Ogoni people the reasons for the quick move to resume exploration.He gave a seven-day ultimatum to Shell and NPDC to cease all engagements aimed at resuming oil production in the land.

Shell’s spokesman, Mr. Joseph Ollo-obari promised to explain the company’s official position soon.Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the expected starting of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko would consolidate the existing peace and security in the Niger Delta region.

Okowa spoke yesterday in Asaba when the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Mohammed Bago led members to visit him.

He said: “The university is sited in a difficult terrain, but we produce oil there, therefore we need to ensure that it comes to fruition because it would affect the lives of the people positively.”Bago said they were in the state to assess the progress of work at the university.