•Ogoni youths and Tinubu
The Ogoni Youths Development Initiative (OYDI) has threatened massive protests across Ogoniland over alleged moves to resume oil exploration, saying the federal government must first create Bori State or abandon plans to resume oil production.
In a notice of protest addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the group alleged “clandestine and insincere moves” to restart oil operations while discussions with critical stakeholders were still ongoing, reports The Nation.
OYDI said it did not oppose economic development or oil exploration but insisted that the sacrifices of Ogoni leaders and decades of environmental devastation in the area could not be ignored.
The notice, signed by the Global President of OYDI, Imeabe Saviour Oscar, declared: “At this stage of our struggle, the only outcome that can truly commensurate with the lives lost and the environmental devastation suffered is the immediate creation of Bori State.”
The youths warned that if the federal government was unwilling to grant the demand for Bori State, it should leave Ogoni oil “in the ground.”
“If the federal government cannot grant this simple request of the Ogoni people by creating Bori State, then they must leave our oil in the ground,” the group said.
OYDI expressed concern over what it described as the lack of transparency surrounding the planned resumption of oil operations, alleging that pipelines were being laid across Ogoniland even as dialogue with stakeholders was said to be ongoing.
The group said, “A stark example of this insincerity is the ongoing laying of pipelines across Ogoniland while stakeholders are supposedly still talking. This act of bad faith undermines our people and proves that the current process is designed to exploit us once again and cause more chaos in our midst rather than ameliorate the years of suffering.”
The youth organisation also demanded the immediate disbandment of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC), saying it had lost confidence in the committee.
It accused the committee of lacking transparency and inclusiveness, particularly in its engagement with the youth population.
“We, the youths, have completely lost confidence in this committee. Their operations lack transparency, they are not inclusive of the youth demography, and they do not represent our collective interests anymore,” OYDI said.
The group further demanded strict adherence to the Ogoni Bill of Rights, insisting that political autonomy and the creation of Bori State remained central to the Ogoni people’s aspirations.
OYDI warned the federal government and joint-venture partners against what it called attempts to force oil operations back into Ogoniland without addressing its demand for state creation.
It said Ogoni youths across the various kingdoms would soon be mobilised for what it described as “massive, widespread protests.”
The group said the protests would be peaceful but vowed to resist any attempt to restart oil production in the area.
“We will go all out to peacefully but firmly shut down any attempt to resume oil operations until Bori State is created and the fraudulent dialogue processes are dismantled,” the group declared.
OYDI said its position was rooted in the sacrifices of Ogoni leaders and activists who fought for justice, environmental protection and the people’s survival.
It added, “We have chosen the path of justice for our fallen heroes. Create Bori State, or leave our oil in the ground. That is our demand.”
The notice was copied to the President of the Senate, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; the Minister of State for Gas Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo; the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; and other top federal and security officials.
