The National Union of Ogoni Students International (NUOS INTL USA), in collaboration with several human rights organisations, has strongly condemned the reported sale of Ogoni oil by Royal Dutch Shell to the tune of $2 billion
The groups in a statement issued on Monday, and jointly signed by NUOS Int’l President and CDHRAC Int’l Coordinator, Pius Nwinee and Cornelius Dumerenee respectively, alleged that this sale “is a scam and a violation of Ogoni economic and national security”.
Other groups are that joined in condemning it are the Center for Democracy, Human Rights and Anti-corruption International, CDHRAC Int’l, People Advancement Center and Mideckoe Environmental Development.
They cited the statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Arowolo Verheijen, claiming that Shell’s sale of its onshore business to local companies marks the end of the company’s nearly century-long operations in the onshore Niger Delta region.
However, the Ogoni groups claimed in the statement that Shell’s actions are an attempt to rob the Ogoni people of their future.
“Oil sale of $2bn in Ogoniland that was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Arowolo Verheijen, is another old trick to scam the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta of their wealth by Royal Dutch Shell.
“The purported sale is another scam, fraud, theft and theft by deception by Royal Dutch Shell,” the Ogoni groups insisted.
They expressed deep concern over the Federal Government’s approval of Shell’s deal, particularly given the government’s talks about resuming oil production in Ogoniland.
They accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of being complicit in Shell’s misconduct and demanded that the government exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists who were executed in 1995.
The statement read: “We are dismayed and disheartened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu complicit in the Royal Dutch Shell impropriety and attempted plan to rob Ogoni people of their future, which is a violation of Ogoni economic and national security.
“We want to reiterate our solemn commitment to Ogoniland and Ogoni people that the Royal Dutch Shell remains persona non grata in Ogoniland and her enclaves.”
The groups vowed that on no account should the Royal Dutch Shell “sell, transfer or divest Ogoni oil, but bequeath Ogoni oil to Ogoni people,” adding that “Ogoni oil is not for sale, transfer or divestment”.
“Over six decades ago, the government of the United Kingdom smuggled the Royal Dutch Shell through the window into Ogoniland, Nigeria to represent her selfish political and economic interests without the consent or permission of our founding fathers and people to steal our oil,” the groups said.
They continued, “Mr. President, the Royal Dutch Shell stole our past, stole our present and we shall not stand by or fold our arms and blind our eyes to watch the Royal Dutch Shell sell the bones of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists that were killed by the military junta in 1995 as well as the bones of four Ogoni prominent chiefs, the bones of over three thousands (3000) Ogoni people killed in the FG and the Royal Dutch Shell’s sponsored and instigated tribal wars with our neighbors that burned down over 17 Ogoni towns and villages.
“On our minimum demand for oil resumption discussion in Ogoniland, we urge you to exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists, immortalise Ogoni four or open an investigation in their overt and shameful killing, create Bori State for the people of Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo and rebuild the destroyed towns and villages.”
The groups emphasised that Shell has no oil to sell in Ogoniland, only liabilities, and that the company cannot pass its liabilities to its agents or partners.
They reiterated their commitment to protecting Ogoni oil and demanded that it be bequeathed to the Ogoni people.
The Ogoni groups also urged the government to create Bori State for the people of Ogoni, Andoni, and Opobo, and to rebuild destroyed towns and villages.
They appreciated the establishment of a University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni but demanded that it be upgraded to a standard university with medical and agricultural programmes.