•Demand full implementation of UNEP report
By Joe Ezuma
Assistant Editor, South South
A coalition of global environmentalist bodies, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), and Ogoni Solidarity Front (OSF) has raised the alarm that Shell is not done yet with its onslaught on Ogoni, part of Nigeria’s oil basin.
Ogoni people have also demanded the immediate and full implementation of the report of the United Nations Environmental Protection Programme (UNEP) as well as payment of $100 billion restoration fund by Shell to the Niger Delta.
They alleged at a conference in Port Harcourt to commemorate the killing of Ogoni environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, that Shell instigated the government against the man and accused the oil company of continuing the destruction of Ogoniland.
A statement issued by the coalition – read out by Environmental Rights Action (ERA) Executive Director, Godwin Ojo – recalled that Saro-Wiwa spearheaded a peaceful march of about 400,000 Ogoni in 1993, drawing world attention to their plight.
”This did not go down well with Shell as it viewed that peaceful engagement as an affront and a threat to its illicit profits from Ogoniland.
“That peaceful march was deliberately misrepresented by Shell and served as the pretext for the occupation of the region by the Nigerian Army.
“On November 10, 1995, [Sani Abacha’s] junta, instigated by Shell, sentenced Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders to death on charges that are not substantiated to date,” they said.
Others who with Saro Wiwa constituted the ”Ogoni Nine” and were murdered after being accused of killing four Ogoni leaders (the ”Ogoni Four”), were Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
The Ogoni Four were Edward Kobani, Albert Baddey, Thompson Orage, and Theophilus Orage.
The hanging of the Ogoni Nine drew international condemnation and anger, especially as the Nigerian government had given assurance they would not be hanged.
Tom Ikimi, Nigeria’s foreign minister at the time, was sent out of a Commonwealth meeting when news of Saro-Wiwa’s hanging broke.
Twenty years on, the clamour for addressing the issues Saro-Wiwa raised continues to grow.
”Shell may have killed the messenger but not the message. Saro Wiwa’s vision of pollution-free communities where the oil is kept in the soil lives on,” the people reiterated.
The coalition said the UNEP assessment of Ogoniland released on August 4, 2011 vindicated Saro-Wiwa.
”We note that Shell still continues to dodge responsibility with corporate impunity. It is now time that the Nigerian government should compel Shell to stop playing games.
“The spills from its ill-maintained pipes must stop, it has to clean up, and provide adequate compensation to the people affected by oil pollution in Nigeria.”
Abuja recently promised $10 million to start the clean up in Ogoniland.
But the people, while commending it as a good step, expressed apprehension in the “continuous foot-dragging in commencing the implementation proper which has sustained the deprivation and suffering of the affected Ogoni communities.”
They insisted that Shell pays for the murder of Saro-Wiwa.
“We demand a comprehensive implementation of the UNEP report and it must commence immediately.
“Clean up must go hand-in-hand with relief materials and adequate compensation for the killing and loss of livelihoods these past decades.
“While we support the initial take-off grant of $1 billion as recommended by the UNEP, we also demand a $100 billion clean up and restoration fund.”