The people of the Eleme Local Government Area in Rivers State have called for unity among the Ogonis to enable them to achieve success in the ongoing oil resumption processes.

The King of Eleme Kingdom, HRM King Philip Osaro Obele, said that the Eleme Council has long suffered despite hosting several multinational companies, stressing that unity is key to addressing the decades of neglect caused by oil exploration and exploitation on their land.

King Osaro stated this at the town hall meeting held by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee at the weekend in Eleme Council, urging the committee to consider the community’s grievances, which were detailed in a memorandum submitted to them.

“I want to reiterate that Eleme people should see themselves as part of the greater Ogoni community. Together, we can work towards solutions that benefit us all.

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“Eleme has watched helplessly as our natural resources are extracted by multinational companies, leaving us with massive unemployment, social degradation, abject poverty, and environmental pollution from industrial noise and reckless oil exploitation. The situation in Eleme is deplorable and requires urgent attention,” he stated.

In his remarks, Co-Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey (Rtd), commended the Eleme community for their peaceful engagement throughout the town hall meetings.

He noted that the dialogue process has opened avenues for healing and reconciliation after years of neglect and marginalisation, urging the community to seize this opportunity to present their demands to the Federal Government.

“This is a moment of opportunity, and I encourage every community to share their memoranda. These contributions will form the foundation of our negotiations, allowing us to address the years of neglect and the environmental damage highlighted in the UNEP report on Ogoni,” Archbishop Kattey stated.

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He informed the Eleme communities that the Federal Government has begun implementing the confidence-building measures requested by the Ogoni delegation, including the establishment of the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Saakpenwa. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to improving the fortunes of the Ogoni people.

A youth leader, Noble Obari Nwolu, commended the dialogue committee for their efforts and expressed optimism that all viewpoints would be fairly considered.

He stressed the Eleme people’s support for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland and encouraged local youth to prepare to benefit from upcoming exploration activities.

“We all share the same desire for oil resumption. We cannot let oil remain in the ground while we face hunger. The Federal Government’s approach this time seems different, and we believe it will benefit the people of Ogoni,” he stated. “Youth in Eleme should seize this opportunity to enhance their skills and prepare for meaningful engagement once oil activities resume.”