•••Seek implementation pact, presidential committee, clarification on reported $300m fund

A coalition of Ogoni youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu to commence the implementation of the 20 recommendations arising from the Ogoni dialogue process, insisting that the creation of Bori State must be explicitly addressed in the proposed implementation roadmap.

The Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) also demanded a formal commitment from the Federal Government, including an interim Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting out implementation timelines, funding arrangements and the responsibilities of relevant institutions.

The coalition warned against what it described as attempts by politicians, influential individuals and vested interests to hijack the dialogue process for personal, political and economic gains, insisting that its outcome must reflect the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people.

In a statement jointly signed by 17 youth leaders, including Chief Kpakol Aleema Kpakol, President of the Ogoni National Youth Congress; Comrade Collins Lebeteh Kenneth, its spokesman; Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr, President-General of Khana Youth Assembly; Chief Barineka Tornwe, President of Ogoni General Youth Assembly; Mene Barisi Kenneth Kaabee, President-General of PA-Gokana Supreme Youth Council; Comrade Ken Nnaa, President of Yorla Oil Field Youth Association; and Nadum Ana-Ana, President of Ogoni Community-Based Youth Leaders Forum, COYOG said the sacrifices made by generations of Ogoni people must not be undermined by political manoeuvring or selective representation.

It described the dialogue as a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development, arguing that no individual or group should be allowed to negotiate away the people’s aspirations.

“The Ogoni dialogue process is a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development. It must not become the exclusive preserve of a few individuals seeking to negotiate away the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people,” the statement said.

A major demand of the coalition is the creation of Bori State, which is described as central to addressing the political exclusion, representation and administrative challenges confronting the Ogoni people.

It urged the Federal Government and relevant constitutional institutions to identify the appropriate constitutional pathway for considering the proposed state, stressing that the demand must not be ignored, indefinitely postponed or deployed as a bargaining instrument by political interests.

“For COYOG, the demand for Bori State is a fundamental question of political inclusion, equitable representation, administrative accessibility and the aspirations of the Ogoni people.

“Any genuine effort to address the Ogoni question must engage this demand openly and seriously alongside the other provisions of the Ogoni Bill of Rights and the 20 demands contained in the Dialogue Committee’s report,” it said.

The coalition also called on Tinubu to establish a representative Presidential Implementation Committee with a clearly defined mandate, measurable targets and sufficient authority to coordinate the execution of the recommendations.

It said the proposed interim MoU should spell out the responsibilities of relevant government institutions, implementation schedules, funding commitments, monitoring mechanisms and public reporting obligations.

COYOG warned that the recommendations should not be reduced to political promises or ceremonial declarations, insisting that the credibility of the dialogue would depend on tangible actions and verifiable results.

The coalition’s intervention also comes amid disagreements over the leadership structure of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC).

It expressed concern over a statement reportedly credited to Rev. Fr. Pius Kii during the service of songs for late Mrs Rosemary Kobani at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, in which Senator Olaka Wogu was reportedly recognised as the leader of the ODC.

Disputing the description, the youth groups said Wogu was a member of the committee’s Harmonisation Subcommittee and not the chairman or leader of the Central Ogoni Dialogue Committee.

They identified Professor Don Baridam as the leader of the central committee, insisting that the established leadership structure and mandate should be respected.

According to COYOG, the Harmonisation Subcommittee was constituted to reconcile reports and recommendations from the Tactical and Technical Committees before presenting its findings through the appropriate structure of the ODC.

It argued that membership of the subcommittee did not confer authority on any individual to assume the leadership of the central committee or independently speak on its behalf.

“We respect Senator Olaka Wogu as a political leader and member of the dialogue structure. However, no individual, irrespective of political status or influence, should place himself above the established institutional framework of the ODC,” the statement added.

The coalition urged Wogu to avoid public conduct or representations that could create confusion over the committee’s leadership. It also appealed to religious leaders and other public figures to verify institutional positions before making pronouncements on the dialogue process.

Beyond the leadership dispute, the youth groups called on the ODC, under Professor Baridam, to improve its public communication by providing regular and comprehensive updates on the progress of the dialogue.

They specifically asked the committee to disclose the outcome of its harmonisation exercise, explain the decisions reached, identify unresolved issues and make its implementation roadmap available to the public.

On the reported $300 million fund, COYOG said the Ogoni people deserved clear and verifiable information about its source, current status, intended purpose and proposed management and accountability arrangements.

It maintained that questions surrounding funds meant for issues of public interest should not be suppressed or politicised, arguing that demands for transparency should not be used to frustrate the broader dialogue process.

“Transparency must be non-negotiable,” the coalition said, adding that accountability and the successful conclusion of the dialogue were not mutually exclusive.

The youth groups also appealed to Ogoni political leaders, traditional rulers, community institutions, civil society organisations, women’s groups and other youth formations to remain united in protecting the collective interests of the people.

They recalled that Ogoni communities had endured decades of environmental degradation, political marginalisation and unmet expectations, warning that the current dialogue would lose credibility if its recommendations were not translated into concrete action.

According to the coalition, the success of the process should not be measured by the number of meetings held, the personalities involved or public statements issued, but by fulfilled commitments, progress in addressing environmental damage, advancement of political demands and improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Ogoni people.

COYOG reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, constructive engagement and democratic mobilisation, pledging to continue holding relevant institutions accountable for their commitments.

“The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent, inclusive and measurable.

“No political interest, individual or elite group is greater than the collective future of Ogoni land,” the statement said.