The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to renew oil mining license for Shell Petroleum Development Company in Ogoni land, Rivers State.
Its spokesperson, Fegalo Nsuke, made the group’s position known on Monday in a statement made available to the NEXT EDITION.
MOSOP insisted it is aware SPDC has presented a fresh application for a mining license to return to Ogoni land from 2019.
“MOSOP wishes to unequivocally state its opposition to the application of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited for the renewal of its oil mining license in Ogoniland.
“We want to make it clear that the conduct of Shell in Ogoniland over the past 60 years had been genocidal, racist and have seriously jeopardised the safety and survival of over one million Ogoni people.
“MOSOP, therefore, urges the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari not to renew Shell’s license to operate the Ogoni oilfields as it expires in 2019,” the movement said.
The group also urged Mr. Buhari to stand on the side of humanity and the Ogoni people, who have lives have been rendered miserable by the operations of the multinational oil firm.
MOSOP argued that the SPDC has polluted the entire ecosystem in Ogoni including its sources of drinking water and means of the peoples’ livelihood.
“We call on President Muhamadu Buhari to show his disapproval of Shell’s reckless and irresponsible business practices in Ogoni by not renewing the license of this massive polluter and sponsor of reckless military actions in Ogoniland.
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“We urge President Buhari who supervises the petroleum ministry, to allow the Ogoni people recover from the shocks of Shell by not approving any oil mining license for the Ogoni oilfields,” MOSOP insisted.
The SPDC started operations in Ogoni in 1958, drilling a total of 96 wells to bring nine oil fields on-stream.
By the end of 1992, Ogoni production was 28,000 barrels of oil a day, about three percent of SPDC’s total production,
MOSOP was established in 1990 and began campaigning for greater control over oil and gas resources on their land, for economic development, and autonomy over their affairs.
The movement’s demands were documented in the 1990 ‘Ogoni Bill of Rights’, which were addressed to the Federal Government.
By November 1992, it demanded US$6 billion in royalties from past oil production and US$4 billion for environmental damage, and SPDC was given 30 days to accept or leave Ogoni land.
SPDC stopped production in Ogoni land and withdrew from the area in 1993 after violence clashes between the people and security operatives.
The crisis escalated in 1993 leading to the killing of four prominent leaders of the area by an angry mob.
The government blamed the then President of the movement and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni leaders for the crime, a move alleged to have been sponsored by the SPDC.
In 1995, the nine prominent Ogoni leaders were found guilty by a military tribunal and executed.
