The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), led by Prof. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government and Reynolds Construction Company, the contractor handling the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, to return to site or face total shutdown of the road.
MOSOP, in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, said that the rate of accidents and loss of lives and properties on that axis of the East -West Road occasioned by the deplorable state of the road has become worrisome.
MOSOP regretted that despite the huge revenue accruing to the federal government from the axis, it has continued to pay lip service regarding the rehabilitation of the road, reports Daily Independent.
MOSOP, however, urged all Ogonis to prepare for total shutdown of the road at the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum on September 3, 2024.
The statement reads, “That it is worrisome that despite the huge revenue accruing from within the Ogoni ethnic nationality especially the Onne Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone, which houses hundreds of companies, the Eleme Petrochemical Company, Eleme Refinery and other federal, state and private assets, the entire stretch of the road had remained in sorry state and a nightmare to travelers. The road is now a death trap to the Ogoni people.
“Also recall that only recently, a fatal fire accident occurred on that road which destroyed over 100 vehicles and claimed many lives which resulted from the bad nature of the road and several other deaths that can’t be accounted for which occur daily on that road.
“The government’s silence and inaction are appalling because we had expected that President Bola Tinubu at this point would have prioritised the completion of the road, but it seems that’s the opposite.
“As voices and representatives of Ogoni people, we are greatly disturbed that the Federal Government has neglected this vital road that links Rivers to other Southern states for too long and we can’t take it anymore and the time for action is now.”
The group further stated, “We are giving the Federal Government a 14-day grace period beginning from today, to fine tune whatever arrangements it has with RCC and return to site as Ogoni people are no longer interested in the politics going on with the company and the Federal Ministry of Works.
“All we need is speedy completion of that road or we shall shut it down completely and cripple economic activities in that entire zone on the 3rd of September 2024.
“We call on all Ogonis to get ready and prepare for massive protest on the 3rd of September 2024 at the Eleme section of the East-West Road at the expiration of this ultimatum.
“The federal government has taken Ogoni for granted for too long and we can’t accept that any longer. The time to save our land is now and we must act.”
