Handling Of UN Study Ignites More Doubts About Nigeria

Handling Of United Nations Study Ignites More Doubts About Nigeria

“Nigeria's political climate favors anarchy and war, not economic investors,” Says MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo

Diigbo said: I read a statement online by President Goodluck Jonathan's government in which I learned that the president's home state of Bayelsa, some communities in neighboring Rivers State, and other unnamed organizations now have to implement the United Nations Environmental Impact Assessment Study on Ogoniland."

"What I think investors can do, and may consider is deal directly with the Ogoni people and others interested in international economic cooperation for development, not with politicians, responsible for wars and killings," Diigbo stated.

He was reacting to Thursday, December 12, 2013 statement in Abuja, by the Director of Press, Ministry of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Iyaga. The statement suggested that “Bayelsa State- the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan and some local communities in neighboring Rivers State, will have to undertake clean-up of Ogoniland alongside other unnamed mushroom organizations. It also claimed that some laymen, notably Ogoni chiefs met to review UNEP Ogoniland environmental report, making it ready for implementation. (http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/unep-report-fg-prepares-ogoniland-cleanup).

“I wouldn't think that the government wants to abuse its only conflict resolution and reconciliation tool. Such behavior might adversely affect international peace and security, especially, because petroleum is at stake,” Diigbo pointed out.

Why Bayelsa clean Ogoni? Why not first clean the report? Then, let Bayelsa and others clean their own lands, which are equally polluted. How can a state or others afford the scientific and technological requirements for thorough clean-up? We saw it played on cable networks with the BP oil leak in the United States of America, and which by now had spent about $24 billion. Where are the profiteers and polluters, including the Nigerian Government, Anglo-Royal Dutch/Shell and Chevron? I reject this dirty oil politics that treats environmental clean-up, like sweeping a beer parlor,” Diigbo said.

“I believe that the national government lied. This public deception damages Nigeria. The ministry's personnel seemed unaware of various international modules, even Nigerian government regulations, the World Bank, and other institutional legislations, guidelines, due process and techniques that define the needs and objectives of environmental impact assessment study (EIAS).

“I gathered the ministry tried to calm protest of December 10, 2013 involving a rented group – a flourishing business in Port Harcourt for political campaigns that protested over non-implementation of the discredited UNEP Report. This was to play into the ruling PDP crisis and to see which faction will be called the Ogoni faction. In this way, one side will claim to be so caring about the welfare of the Ogoni people. It was a wrong protest. We asked for a proper review, and continue to do so. Government said some lay traditional rulers have been consulted; among them those paid by General Sani Abacha and oil firms to testify in order to hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and others,” Diigbo noted.

“Ogoni will act, and the rest of the world will notice,” Diigbo vowed.

ends

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