The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) has insisted that credible community congresses must be held across the four Ogoni local government areas before it signs any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government on the proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
The committee said the congresses were necessary to ensure that any agreement reached reflected the collective interests of the Ogoni people and enjoyed widespread acceptance and legitimacy among the communities.
The proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Rivers State, has remained contentious, with various stakeholders expressing differing positions on the negotiations, environmental protection and community participation.
According to Channels Television, the committee’s position followed a meeting at which members agreed that unity, transparency, broad-based consultations and confidence-building measures must guide the engagement with the Federal Government.
Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt and committee member, Professor Ndowa Lale, said the meeting produced important resolutions that would guide the committee’s next steps in the dialogue process.
He described the discussions as painstaking and, at times, difficult, but expressed optimism that patience, cooperation and sustained engagement would produce the desired outcome.
Also speaking, the Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt and Senior Lecturer at Rivers State University, Monsignor Dr Pius Kii, disclosed that the committee had resolved to support the Federal Government’s efforts to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland for the benefit of Nigeria and the Ogoni people.
He said members also agreed to conclude the harmonisation of the proposed MoU in line with resolutions reached at their previous meeting.
Kii explained that the chairmen of the four Ogoni local government councils, who were assigned to engage and sensitise their respective communities ahead of the proposed congresses, had reported significant progress.
However, opposition to the proposed oil resumption remains strong among some stakeholders.
The Green Ogoni Initiative has rejected the move, arguing that the process does not adequately address the rights and interests of the Ogoni people, particularly environmental protection and community consent.
The apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ogoni people, KAGOTE, has also called for greater transparency in the negotiations, raising concerns about community representation, employment opportunities, contract awards and reported oil-related activities while discussions are ongoing.
Similarly, the Ogoni Peoples’ Assembly has demanded the publication of the proposed MoU and wider community consultations before any agreement is signed.
The organisation wants the commercial, environmental and ownership arrangements clearly explained to the people.
The differing positions highlight the challenges facing the ongoing negotiations, particularly the need to balance the Federal Government’s interest in restarting oil production with the demands and expectations of Ogoni communities.
The Ogoni Dialogue Committee maintains that credible community congresses must precede the signing of any agreement, stressing the importance of securing the people’s confidence and participation in decisions concerning the future of oil exploration in their homeland.
The outcome of the consultations is expected to play a significant role in determining the next phase of the Federal Government’s proposed oil resumption plans in Ogoniland.
