Yemisi Izuora/Ijeoma Agudosi
Oil exploration activities may soon commence in volatile Ogoni land in the Niger Delta Region as host communities collective endorse an agreement to allow Belema Oil Producing Limited to take over from Shell.
Oriental News Nigeria, gathered that Ogoni stakeholders have endorsed Belema Oil Producing Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company to take over operation and ownership of Shell OML 11 in Ogoni land.
The resolution of the stakeholders was contained in a communiqué at the end of a meeting held by oil bearing communities in Ogoniland at the Palace of the Gbenemene Tai, and Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King G.N.K. Gininwa.
The communiqué, which was read by the Paramount Ruler of Ogale Community in Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Godwin Bebe Okpabi, stated that, “We have resolved and hereby endorse to, and have partnered with Belema Oil Producing Limited for the takeover, operation and ownership of Shell OML 11 in Ogoniland.
The Ogoni people have suffered enough in the hands of strange and imperial oil companies, and have now chosen to experience a new dispensation of recognition, partnership and development as contained in Belema Oil Producing Limited, strategy agreement proposed”.
The communiqué also stated that, “The key to Ogoni oil has been released to Belema Oil Producing Limited and Ogonis shall not accept any other company or process that will impose another imperial oil operator on the people”.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation of Ogoni oil bearing communities at the meeting, Chief Gilbert Warinehad declared that the resolution was the outcome of due consultation with relevant stakeholders, over the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni and a replacement for Shell.
In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of K-Dere Community in Gokana LGA, Chief Donald Gberesu, said the leadership of the oil-bearing communities was unanimous in the endorsement of Belema Oil to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland.
The royal father called on the Federal Government, world investor finance groups, United Nations, human rights support groups and other relevant stakeholders to support the initiative.
In his speech, the chief host and Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom, King G.N.K. Gininwa, described the event as historic, and commended the peaceful resolution on the issue.
Gininwa decried the fact that Ogoni has been a victim of oil politics in Nigeria, and expressed hope that the new development will enable the people to have a stake in the management of their natural resources.
The royal father also expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the implementation of the UNEP report recommendations on Ogoniland, and called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the matter.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. DineBari Dube said MOSOP was happy over the initiative, and assured that MOSOP would monitor the process and policy implementation to ensure that it conforms to the stipulations of the Ogoni Bill of Rights.
In attendance were, representatives of the Federation of Ogoni Women Organisation (FOWO) and Youths representatives from the four Ogoni LGAs of, Eleme, Khana, Gokana and Tai LGAs.