Jul 11, 2016

Ogoni: Nigerian Government Not Cleaning Land as Promised


Despite the Nigerian Government’s promises of cleaning up Ogoni land in Rivers State, no men nor materials have been mobilised until now. According to Mr Fred Agbedi, Nigerian MP representing the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, this shows that the government is not taking the environmental issue seriously. Ogoni people are facing a harsh economic crisis due to pillage of resources by the government. 

 

Photo courtesy of Today.

Below is an article published by Today

Mr. Fred Agbedi, a House of Representatives member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, has questioned the Federal Government’s sincerity to clean-up Ogoni land in Rivers State.

Agbedi told reporters at the weekend in Yenagoa that the flag-off ceremony for the environmental remediation exercise was President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘photo-trick’ on the Ogoni people.

He noted that several weeks after the ground-breaking launch of the clean-up performed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who represented Buhari at the event, men and materials have not been mobilised to site in Ogoni land.

Agbedi, a one time chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa, said that the delay by the Federal Government to commence the clean-up shows it is not serious.

“The Federal Government said it is embarking on the clean-up of Ogoni land. Up till now, no equipment and personnel have been deployed for the clean-up. It is a mere photo-trick to deceive Ogoni people, “he said.

The House Committee chairman on Gas Resources also said that the fiscal policies of the Buhari administration were responsible for the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, stressing that “If drastic measures are not taken, it may turn the nation into crises”.

Agbedi hinted that he and some members of the National Assembly would soon sponsor a bill for a referendum on true federalism and resource control as the panacea to the socio-economic challenges of the nation.

“The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi will appear before us and say one of his challenges was that of illegal miners, and that the Federal Government is working out ways to organise those that can be encouraged into co-operatives.

“But when it comes to the Niger Delta region and our people refining our crude, they call it economic sabotage.

“They don’t see anything good in us. But our resources which they feel belong to them, with that posture, there will be no peace,” Agbedi added.