Rivers Landlords Hail Tinubu For Ratifying University of Environment Establishment in Ogoni

…Demand Rent Arrears, Fresh MoU Ahead Of Oil Exploration Resumption

PORT HARCOURT – Following the proposed oil exploration resumption in Ogoniland, landlords of oil and gas facilities in the area have The Landlords also applauded President Bola Tinubu For signing into law the establishment of the University of Environment in Ogoni land.

The Landlords under the aegis of Ogoni Bonafide Host Landlords, drawn from Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Khana LGAs (GOTEKGA) said the president’s gesture demonstrates the love and commitment he has towards the development of Ogoni land.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Engr. Benjamin Harry, General Coordinator/Contact Man, Chief Kenneth Keke, Coordinator Eleme LGA, Comrade Kenneth Toate, Coordinator Gokana LGA, Pst. David Sudoo, Coordinator Khana LGA, Pst. Abam Saturday Kpokpone, Coordinator Tai LGA, Mene-Dumbari Kpakol and Comrade, Blessing Bariyereba over the weekend.

The statement reads in part, “The Ogoni Bonafide Host Landlords comprising Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Khana (GOTEKGA) sincerely thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria for the reapproval and signing into the Federal University of Environment in Ogoni land.

“This is a true demonstration of love and commitment towards the development of Ogoni land by the current administration under the President and Commander–in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

“Ogoni people persistently sue for genuine development, peace, security, environmental and social justice, economic emancipation among others.

“We deem it proper and timely for oil resumption in Ogoni land but the truth must be said at all times even in the face of intimidation or sabotage.

“Oil resumption is the most critical and fragile issue which must be handled with utmost sincerity and care knowing that there are several factors that may necessitate it, such as The Ogoni Bill Of Right, Land Use Act, Environmental Laws, Content Act, etc, and that any deviation from the laid down template shall be a tremendous blow to our posterity.”

The Landlords also demanded that a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), be signed between the Government, prospecting companies and the host landlords.

They equally demanded a backlog of land rent arrears owed them since 1957 till date by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).

The landlords argued that since the Ogoni people operate families and individual land ownership, the land upon which oil facilities traverse and occupy are individually owned and cannot be forcefully or illegally acquired without dialogue with the authentic owners.

They emphasised that oil resumption in Ogoniland can never be achieved through the backdoor to the detriment of the landlords, hence any exploration in the area must be done in line with the international best practices and regulations, vowing to resist any forceful oil exploration resumption with all they have.

“Ogoni is an integral part of the Nigerian nation which has contributed its quota immensely in oil/mineral resources to the growth and development of Nigeria, over the years and it deserves such projects.

“We commend all efforts that facilitated the realization of the dream which was abandoned by the previous administrations.

“Flowing from the above, we hereby bring to the Ogoni people, the Nigerian Government and the International Communities the following:

“That the Ogoni people operates on families/individual land ownership as

such, the land upon which those oil facilities traverse/occupy are individual or families lands, which cannot be forcefully or illegally acquired without dialogue with the authentic owners.

“That the backlog of land rent payment since 1957 till date must be paid by SPDC to the landlords before any discussion can commence on oil resumption.

“That fresh MOU must be signed between the Government, the prospecting companies and the Host landlords, throughout Ogoni land.

“That a perimeter survey must be carried out to confirm the authentic landlords and the dimension of land that may be acquired in line with the Land Lease Act.

“That oil resumption or re-entry in Ogoni can never be achieved through the backdoor to the detriment of the landlords.

They further demanded, “That any operation in Ogoni land must be done in line with the international best practices/regulations.That landlords can never be shortchanged by politicians or traditional rulers or the elites of the communities any longer.

“That Ken Saro Wiwa and other Ogoni martyrs paid the Supreme price in the course of their struggles for Ogoni freedom and we cannot tolerate further bloodshed in the land. To that effect, government should follow the path of truth only the truth can set them free. As we shall resist all forms of forceful resumption with the last drop of our blood.

“That the Ogoni landlords signed pact, gave consent/authorization in the ongoing oil companies, MOU, CSR land grabbing, investigation, approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria and domiciled to the Domicile Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“We are calling on SPDC to stop all forms of operation/sectional replacement in Ogoni land henceforth pending the determination of our matter under investigation, with MOU CSR land grabbing on going and landlords fully settled,”