The Chairman of Ogoni Dialogue Committee,ODC,Prof. Don Baridam has stated explicitly that its main and ultimate goal is to make sure that they are bringing Ogoni back into the mainstream of national development and to strategically facilitate the resumption of oil production in Niger Delta region.

Baridam made the assertion in a statement made available to The Guardian in Abuja, explaining that to the best of our knowledge and based on available information, there are no oil and gas production activities in Ogoni directly linked to the re-entry programme.

He added that they have collated people’s views into the official ODC Report, which are representing their demands, concerns, and aspirations articulated during the process, and was duly submitted to the Federal Government for actions.

The Chairman warned mischief makers to refrain from issuing statements against or concerning the Committee, its facilitators, and the ongoing dialogue between the Ogoni people and the Government,
as they have consulted widely the views of the people problems.

“We did not consider the public exchange among Ogoni stakeholders necessary or helpful to a process that requires patience, good faith, and unity of purpose. Those invited were charged with plea to returning home to place the facts before the people.”

“Those invited formed what is now known as the ODC to carry out this assignment. A meeting was held with NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, alongside top government officials, like then Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.”

Similarly,Prof. Baridam explained, at that inaugural meeting, the President mandated the National Security Adviser (NSA), to steer and superintend over the process. “The ultimate aim was to bring Ogoni back into the mainstream of national development and facilitate the resumption of oil production.”

He therefore maintained that Ogoni stakeholders was appointed to:
Oversee the implementation of immediate confidence-building initiatives. Lead the Ogoni mobilization, engagement, and dialogue process to receive views from all Ogonis, at home and in the diaspora.

“We have collated common views expressed by the majority into a unified body of Ogoni demands ahead of negotiations with the Government. We identified quick-win initiatives that the NSA could present to the President for approval,” he added.

“The ODC embarked upon an extensive consultation process involving communities, traditional institutions, youth and women groups, professional bodies, civil society organizations, political stakeholders, the diaspora, and other interest groups across Ogoni.”

According to him, we’ve identified several immediate measures to demonstrate good faith and restore confidence among our people, such as employment opportunities for qualified sons and daughters, and the establishment by law of a Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni.

Others include,rehabilitation of the East-West Road section passing through Ogoni;rehabilitation and improvement of selected health facilities, and improvement of designated secondary schools to be captured in the budget via the National Assembly, and the development of Industrial Park.

He urged the Federal Government to create Bori State, alongside other related demands, as the creation requires constitutional procedures, and the necessary processes have been set in motion.

“Our focus remains steadfast: to bring this dialogue to a successful conclusion that secures peace, justice, environmental restoration, shared prosperity, and a better future for the Ogoni people.

It is therefore ironic for certain individuals to misstate these facts, unless they are pursuing predetermined interests that run counter to the collective interest of Ogoni.

We are appealing to all Ogoni leaders, traditional institutions, youths, women, professionals, and stakeholders to resist turning legitimate differences into another cycle of internal conflict.”