Stakeholders argue that the structures set-up by the President lack local input, reports DGossip247 from Port Harcourt.
To fully appreciate the level of environmental degradation in Ogoniland, and the economic depravation of the people, whose main sources of livelihood have been destroyed by decades of oil exploration, then one has to be in Ogoniland to see things firsthand. Since 1952 when oil exploration commenced in Ogoniland, there has been almost nothing to show for it, other than slow death inspired by long years of consuming poisonous water.
The unemployment rate in this area is extra-high, due to lack of economic opportunities, with youths resorting, futily, to farming and fishing but such activities are usually futile because of massive water pollution. In desperation, others resort to motorcycling (okada), as the last means of livelihood. In a nutshell, oil exploration in Ogoniland, as in other oil producing areas in the Niger Delta, is all about greed, neglect and insensitivity to the well-being of the people who occupy those areas.
That is why some indegenes bear grudges that are at their expense and their environment while a few well-connected individuals and oil companies hiding under cover provided by the government, have deliberately made life a living-hell for them. When President Muhammadu Buhari recently gave the nod for the implementation of the UNEP report in Ogoniland, it was warmly welcomed, considering that the report is more than three years. But ordering its implementation and ensuring compliance with the core of the UNEP report recommendations are two different things.
That is why some individuals and groups in Ogoniland have given misgivings about the implementation. As observers had suspected , the deep divisions within Ogoniland and other areas in the Niger Delta where oil operations wrought havoc might inspire equally deep suspicions. Interest from other Niger Delta areas stems from the fact that the clean-up in Ogoniland would act a model for future clean-ups. That was why then UNEP representative in Nigeria, Mike Cowing had a tough time accessing some of the impacted areas in Ogoniland.
While some folks genuinely wanted him to execute the project in line with international best practices and tracked his progress every step of the way, even succeeding in making him to adjusted his programme for better result, others may have only been interested in how the money set aside for the exercise would be spent, insisting on a share of it.
The period was 2009-2010 when there were two factional leaders of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) – one led by Ledum Mitee, and the other by Goodluck Diigbo. Both men had made it very clear that they were driven by the interest of the Ogoni people, and their environment, but not agreeing on who should speak on behalf of the people, created factions and followers.
It was also the period when the Federal Government struck a deal with Niger Delta militants on amnesty. Yet it was unwise and unsafe for the experts that were brought in for the exercise to access the impacted areas without serious security arrangement. Like other regions in the Niger Delta, kidnapping for ransom was rife.
And despite he amnesty programme, which eased the security challenges in the region, some freelancers who made a fortune in kidnapping were reluctant to hands off. Briefing former governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and other stakeholders in Government House, Port Harcourt, Cowing, complained bitterly that he didn’t know the faction of MOSOP and other groups to listen to on the project, falling short of saying that such zero-unanimity was hindering him from doing his job.
But against great odds, Cowing and his team exppressed determination to do his job. He eventually succeeded in his assignment, paving the way for the document that is today known as the UNEP Report. It is necessary to point out that based on the pressure mounted on Cowing, he ran the exercise from Ogoniland instead of the earlier choice of Port Harcourt, and included some Ogoni in the exercise.
This created jobs for some Ogoni youths, and in a way, boosted the credibility of the exercise. Reactions With Buhari’s approval for a clean-up of Ogoniland coming a few days after MOSOP demanded compensation from the Federal Government and the implementation of the UNEP Report, the pan- Ogoni group did not waste time in commending the President. It was timely in that MOSOP was preparing to mark the third anniversary of the UNEP Report. MOSOP president, Legborsi Pyagbara, in a letter to conveying the appreciation of the Ogoni people, urged Buhari to ensure the active participation and representation of the Ogoni in national issues, declaring that the Ogoni were politically-marginalised by the Nigeria state.
He also condemned the hanging of the Ogoni Nine, noting that they “were unjustly murdered by the Nigeria State despite appeals from majority of Nigerians and members of the International Community against their killings.” Pyagbara also called for the creation of Bori State for the Ogoni, and their neighbours, adding that beyond the UNEP report implementation; there was need for Buhari to look into the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which clearly states “the need to guarantee their right to the protection of the Ogoni environment and ecology from further degradation.
“This had been the banner under which the environmental justice campaign of the Ogoni People had been waged to stop further degradation of the Ogoni environment arising from unscrupulous oil exploitation.” He said: “Your Excellency, the Ogoni people and all her neighbours will remain eternally grateful to you if you can create the necessary ambience and environment for Bori for Bori State to be created during the life of your administration.
“In the Ogoni Bill of Rights, the Ogoni People made a request for the adequate and direct representation of the Ogoni People as of rights in all Nigeria national institutions. This was made against the backdrop of the high index of the immoral under-representation and political marginalisation of the Ogoni people by the Nigeria state.
Whilst the Ogoni struggle contributed to the birth of the current democratic dispensation, Ogoni got nothing in return in terms of representation. It was based on this realization that MOSOP had, in March 2013, embarked on a campaign for political justice for the Ogoni people. “… it is an indisputable fact, that there cannot be effective participation in the democratic process without a corresponding adequate representation at levels of management and governance. “The continual denial of the Ogoni people’s representation at the national level particularly in terms of national appointments smacks of discrimination, neglect, and is not congruent with the practice of genuine and inclusive democracy.”
But another group, the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority faulted Buhari on the clean-up, because it “violates the technical demands on Ogoniland.” The group’s president, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, faulted Buhari’s silence on the Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland and a Centre of Excellence for Environ-mental Restoration.
He also said that the $1billion was “grossly inadequate for take-off” Diigbo observed: “The recommendations are secret, and reliance on nonexperts is not only misguided, but, unacceptable. Since Buhari was part of the regime that hanged Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, for demanding for the Environmental Impact Assessment Study, the now President Buhari, should have treaded with caution in trying to override the disputed UNEP Report. “Buhari may have a good intention, but, his expressed intentions might deepen old wounds. For instance, Buhari avoided specific mention of recommendations by UNEP…
“The Nigerian government agencies concerned lack qualified technical experts and resources.” “So, I started to doubt if the Executive Director of UNEP could truly be part of what Buhari intends. “Instead to dictate to us, we appeal to Buhari to facilitate dialogue to lead to a genuine joint review by stakeholders, involving Shell, Chevron, NNPC, Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority, as well as competent technical experts to be appointed by the Ogoni people. We will not be part of the behind the scene fast-track unilateral actions.”
UNEP Report as a unifier In a state with a history of divisive politics, where politicians across divides don’t see eye to eye, it was surprising that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sank their differences and took a common position on the claen-up. Ogoniland was one of the epicenters of the last general elections in the state, where some party faithful attacked rival supporters, and defaced posters of candidates. Since the end of the election, which claimed several lives, no day passes without party supporters whether in official or unofficial capacity attacking the governorship candidates of the two parties – Governor Nyesom Wike and Dr. Dakuku Peterside of the PDP and APC respectively.
Reacting to Buahri order, the APC governorship candidate praised the President’s courage in fast-tracking the long expected UNEP, and described it as a move that would ameliorate other challenges facing Ogoniland. Peterside said: “Once again, Mr. President has demonstrated that he is a man of honour. During his campaign stops in Rivers State shortly before the election, he promised our people that his government would look into the UNEP Report and the challenges facing the people of Niger Delta. Less than three months into his administration, the President has already taken a giant step in this regard. He is indeed a man of his words. “Our people in the region know that this is a president we can trust because of his antecedent and track record. By this action,. Mr. President has rekindled hope and brought a major relief to our long-suffering people.
“We know that it can only be better. I therefore urge the entire people of Niger Delta region to rally round this president as he works tirelessly to return Nigeria on the path of honour and greatness. Our region is on his mind, therefore we must do everything possible to support this administration. The PDP said: “The PDP commends President Buhari for not discontinuing a process started by previous administrations, which led to the commissioning of UNEP activities in Ogoni as well as setting up of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), particularly by the Jonathan’s administration, all of which were being gazetted.”
Interestingly, it was during the period that Wike tasked oil companies to carry out more developmental projects in their host communities, and to pay serious attention to their corporate social responsibilities and ensure a conducive environment for them to carry out their operations. Wike gave the charge when the Country Chairman and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor and other management staff, visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Real Bone of Contention The criticism that has trailed Buhari’s order on the UNEP Report implementation in Ogoniland, is the absence of Ogoni in the body saddled with the responsibility of the clean-up, which is the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP).
The governing council of HYPREP, according to the recommendation of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is supposed to have a Rivers person in it. The former President had also recommended that $50 million should be made available as the initial take-off sum, instead of the $10 million that some observers say is contained in Buhari’s programme. One of the groups that has argued that: “Environmental hazards don’t know PDP or APC. Its impact is on all humans, irrespective of age, descent or party affiliations.
The cleanup of Ogoniland concerns all Nigerians who reside and do business in Ogoniland and its environs. “This development of altering the recommendations of the Jonathan’s administration as regards the cleanup of Ogoniland, by President Buhari, as seen in the composition of the Board of Trustees of HYPREP, is very frightening. And we are afraid that President Buhari may not release all the monies, and compensation as contained in the Jonathan’s recommendations for the cleanup, in line with the UNEP report.” This is also the position of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, which also wants Buhari to change the name of HYPREP to Hydrocarbons Cleanup Project (HYCUP) “if anything meaningful is to be done in Ogoniland.” The group’s director, Nnimo Bassey, noted that: “There are rough edges that still require smoothening for a smooth take off of the clean up project.
“A significant aspect is thenon-inclusion of at least one representative of civil society in the structures set up by the President. The role and deep stakes of civil society in the struggle for the clean up of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta cannot be overlooked. Their inclusion is essential for oversight reason…” According to the summary of the UNEP Report, funds should not be an obstacle to its implementation, and that an “initial capital injection of USD 1 billion contributed by the oil industry and the government” should be made available.
It also made it clear that the programme should last for about 25 to 30 years in order to achieve the desired result. The UNEP project team had surveyed 122 kms of pipeline rights of way and examined more than 5,000 medical records apart from staging 264 formal community meetings in Ogoniland, which was attended by more than 23,000 people. The report also notes that: “A campaign in Ogoniland to end illegal oil-related activities should be jointly conducted by the government, oil companies and local authorities.
It should include an awareness component highlighting the disproportionate environmental footprint of artisanal refining (borne by all sections of the community) and spell out training, employment and livelihood incentives that will encourage people away from participating in this illegal activity.”
It also recommends that “the Government of Nigeria establishes an Ogon i l a n d Environmental Restoration Authority to oversee implementation of this study’s recommendations. With a fixed initial lifespan of 10 years, the Authority will have a separate budget which will accrue from an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Fund and its staff will largely be seconded from relevant national and state institutions.”
What this simply means is that if the recommendations are dutifully-implemented, the clean-up would create series of employment opportunities in Ogoniland, while it lasts and ensure that the people for once enjoy the benefits of their God-given wealth. These are the fears of Ogoni stakeholders, some who have described the clean-up as another plot by the Federal Government to deny them their rights.
No comments:
Post a Comment