The group says no agreement with the Federal Government will be signed until communities across the four Ogoni local government areas hold credible congresses to determine their position on the controversial plan…….
The proposed return of oil exploration to Ogoniland has encountered another hurdle, with the Ogoni Dialogue Committee insisting that the views of local communities must be established before any formal agreement is reached with the Federal Government.
The committee says it will not append its signature to a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) until credible and widely accepted congresses are organised across the four Ogoni local government areas.
According to the group, the exercise is crucial to ensuring that the agreement enjoys broad community support and does not become another source of division among the Ogoni people.
The demand comes amid growing disagreements over the Federal Government’s efforts to restart oil production in the oil-rich area of Rivers State. While some stakeholders see renewed exploration as an opportunity for economic development, others remain concerned about the environmental consequences and whether the interests of local residents will be adequately protected.
Speaking on the committee’s deliberations, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt and member of the group, Professor Ndowa Lale, said discussions had produced important resolutions that would shape the next phase of engagements with the Federal Government.
He acknowledged that the negotiation process had been demanding, but expressed confidence that continued dialogue, patience and cooperation could help the parties reach an acceptable position.
Providing further details on the proposed agreement, the Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt and Senior Lecturer at Rivers State University, Monsignor Dr Pius Kii, said the committee had agreed to support the Federal Government’s efforts to restore oil exploration in Ogoniland, provided the process serves the interests of both Nigeria and the Ogoni people.
He added that members had also agreed to complete the harmonisation of the proposed MoU, taking into account decisions reached during previous meetings.
Kii disclosed that the chairmen of the four Ogoni local government councils, who were assigned to mobilise and educate residents ahead of the community congresses, had reported considerable progress in their respective areas.
However, the committee’s position comes against the backdrop of strong opposition from sections of the Ogoni community, particularly groups that believe the proposed resumption does not sufficiently address longstanding environmental and ownership concerns.
The Green Ogoni Initiative has been among the groups rejecting the plan, arguing that renewed oil activities cannot be considered without clear guarantees on environmental protection, community rights and the consent of the people.
Other stakeholders have not necessarily opposed oil production but have questioned the transparency of the negotiations and the extent to which ordinary residents are being represented.
The apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ogoni people, KAGOTE, has previously called for greater accountability in the engagement process, raising concerns about who speaks for the communities, the distribution of employment opportunities, contract awards and reports of oil-related activities while discussions are still underway.
Similarly, the Ogoni Peoples’ Assembly has called for the proposed MoU to be made public before it is signed, arguing that residents must be given the opportunity to examine its provisions.
The organisation wants details covering commercial arrangements, environmental safeguards and ownership interests clearly spelt out to prevent an agreement that could leave critical community concerns unresolved.
The disagreement reflects the difficulty of securing a common position among Ogoni stakeholders, whose experiences with oil exploration have been shaped by decades of environmental concerns, agitation for justice and demands for greater control over resources in their homeland.
For the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, the proposed congresses appear to be a necessary step towards bridging those differences and establishing a position that carries the backing of the wider community.
But whether the consultations will produce a consensus remains uncertain, particularly as opposition groups continue to question the terms of the proposed return.
Ultimately, the success of the Federal Government’s renewed push for oil exploration may depend not only on the agreement reached at the negotiation table but also on whether the Ogoni people believe their voices, rights and concerns have been genuinely reflected in the process.
