PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS (FMG) – The Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT), Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), Mike Nwielaghi has called on people of the Ogoni Kingdom to continue to remain peaceful in their agitations against discrimination, suppression, political marginalisation and environmental degradation.
Nwielaghi make the call in a message to mark the 30th anniversary of the Ogoni Day on 4th January 2023. It was initiated by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People to highlight the struggle of the indigenous Ogoni people and promote their rights.
The Ogonis are a people in the Rivers South East Senatorial District of Rivers State. With its over 2 million residents in the Niger Delta Community, their running battles with oil spill and its attendant environmental consequences have negatively affected Ogoni land.
Dr. Nwielaghi in recounting the history and struggle of the Ogoni people, said “I recall with the nostalgic feelings how it all started 30 years ago. How Our people under the leadership of late Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa and other great leaders of Ogoni both past and present, and all our people converged on Bori on the 4th day of January 1993. How it all started as the beginning of a peaceful struggle against Discrimination, Suppression, Political marginalisation and Environmental degradation by the then Military Government of Nigeria.”
Dr. Nwielaghi reminded Nigerians how late hero Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa and his associates fought against oppression and the marginalisation of the Ogoni people. how the battle was not fought through the barrels of booming guns but with the pens and brains. however, many leaders of the Ogoni people died in the struggle.
He therefore advised the sons and daughters of Ogoni Kingdom to maintain peaceful coexistence, create love among themselves and their neighbors as this shows the strength and pride they have as a people.
He listed some achievements and on-going projects by the Board of Trustees, Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated; Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) .
He said “the ongoing Ogoni clean up exercise approved by the APC led Federal Administration under the leadership of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari is one of the greatest achievements of the Ogoni struggle and I want to use this medium to call on our people to work with Government to achieve set goals of the clean-up program.
“There are currently six on-going water projects which commenced at our advent in March 2021 and several remediation works started at that same time.
“Today, major landmark projects of the ongoing Ogoni clean up exercise are being handled by the project Coordination Office of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project HYPREP. These include more Remediation works, the Ogoni Power Project which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council. This project is a ‘star project of HYPREP” and will gulp over #27billion in its first phase and to link all Ogoni Communities to the National grid.
“The second phase of the 14 water projects which were to be reticulated to more communities in the area.”
The Chairman, Board of Trustee solicited for the continuous support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the JV- partners who are part and parcel of membership of the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council.
He therefore enjoined all Ogonis to embrace peace, dialogue and to cooperate with the Minister of Environment Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, who had been so committed, the BOT, and the Project Coordination Office, (PCO), of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project HYPREP as to speedily deliver on mandate by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Read the full remarks below;
30TH ANNIVERSARY OF OGONI DAY: A Goodwill message by Dr. Mike Nwielaghi, Chairman Board of Trustees, Ogoni Trust Fund incorporated, Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP)
Seasons Greetings and Love to you my dear brothers and sisters and congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Ogoni day.
I recall with the nostalgic feelings how it all started 30 years ago. How Our people under the leadership of late Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa and other great leaders of Ogoni both past and present, and all our people converged on Bori on the 4th day of January 1993. How it all started as the beginning of a peaceful struggle against discrimination, suppression, political marginalisation and Environmental degradation by the then military government of Nigeria.
Our late Hero Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa and his associates opened our eyes to the oppression and the marginalisation of our people. And how the battle was not to be fought through the barrels of booming guns but with the pens and brains. Sadly enough, we lost him with many of our leaders and peoples in the process.
Therefore, as we mark this day today, may we all ponder over what our past heros died for. And that is the emancipation of our people from political marginalisation, poverty, oppression and Environmental degradation, without the spill of anyone’s blood, not of an Ogoni or anyone living amongst us.
Today, in an attempt to review the level of progress in the struggle, can we pause to ask ourselves, how far we have gone, and where exactly we are in the struggle? And what contributions have been made individually and collectively in achieving set goals?.
It must be re-stated that this struggle was a peaceful one and that was why we received acceptance and recognitions by both local and the International Community. This indeed is the first high points eventhough it was later to be fraught with unnecessary disturbances by supposed external enemies.
From the foregoing, I will call on all Ogoni sons and daughters to continue to remain peaceful in our agitations,. We must maintain peaceful coexistence, create love among ourselves and our neighbours for this is our strength and pride as a people.
On our part as those appointed by the Federal government of Nigeria to supritend some of the gains of the struggle, as elites and leaders, we will continue to do our best for the overall good of Ogoni people. I assure you all, of our support and commitment to making Ogoni great.
For-instance, the ongoing Ogoni clean up exercise approved by the APC led Federal Government under the leadership of His Excellency President Mohammedu Buhar is one of the greatest achievements of the Ogoni struggle and I want to use this medium to call on our people to work with government to achieve set goals of the clean up program.
There are currently six on-going water projects which commenced at our advent in March 2021 and several remediation works started at that same time.. Incidentally, efforts of remediation works are not easily appreciated since they are neither visible nor tangible to see and feel, since they occur underneath the surface of the earth
Today, major landmark projects of the ongoing Ogoni clean up exercise are being handled by the project Coordination Office of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project HYPREP. These include more Remediation works, the Ogoni Power Project which was recently approved by the federal executive council. This project is a ‘star project of HYPREP” and will gulp over #27billion in its first phase and to link all Ogoni Communities to the national grid.
The second phase of the 14 water projects which were to be reticulated to more communities in the area are being stalled at the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) owing to unwarranted litigations since June 2022. All appeals to litigants to withdraw these suits have fallen on deaf ears, but steps are now being taken to vacate these court processes in the new year.
In the same vein, we must shun rumour mongering and spurious allegations by conflict merchants regarding the safe custody of the funds for the implementation of the project. These funds are quite safe and would require strict procedures before cash is called. And this is only on the request by the coordinating office of HYPREP. through the approval of the Governing Council of HYPREP. And final approval/ release by the Board of Trustees Ogoni Trust Fund incorporated HYPREP.
And as we speak, there is an ongoing federal government ordered audit by the President through the Auditor-General of the Federation of the accounts of the board of trustees Ogoni Trust Fund incorporated HYPREP and the Coordination Office.
It is also imperative at this point to solicit the contionous support of the UNEP, International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the JV- partners who are part and parcel of membership of the board of trustees and the Governing Council to continue to remain steadfast in their draw- down support for the project. Indeed, funding hasn’t been a problem of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) .
I will therefore enjoin all Ogonis to embrace peace, dialogue and to cooperate with the Hon Minister of Environment Barr.Mohammed Abdullahi, who had been so committed, the Board of Trustees (.BOT) and the Project Coordination Office ( PCO) of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project HYPREP as to speedily deliver on mandate by the President of the federal republic of NIGERIA.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Long Live Ogoni Land!
Long Live Rivers State!!
Long Live Federal Republic of NIGERIA.
Dr Nwielaghi Barieenee Michael
Chairman
Board of Trustees
Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project HYPREP.
4th January, 2023.
Reporting by Promise Bebu; Editing by ChrisMario Ubong
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