Panic in Rivers as Ogoni oil exploration talks ends abruptly

There was tension in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni land, on Saturday as a congress convened to discuss the resumption of oil exploration in the area ended unexpectedly.  

The meeting followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to Ogoni leaders in Abuja over two weeks ago, urging them to consult their people on the proposed resumption of oil activities before reporting back to him.

Scheduled to take place at the Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, the congress attracted an overwhelming crowd from the four Ogoni local government areas Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme.

According to our correspondent at the scene, the venue was filled to capacity before the scheduled 1 pm start time, with hundreds more gathered outside. Due to the large turnout, organizers attempted to move the event to an open field. However, the congress ended abruptly, further heightening tensions in the community.

Yet the crowd swelled even as political leaders of the area including the Senator representing the Rivers South-East, Barry Mpigo, the Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Victor Giadom, former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, Ledum Mitee arrived the venue.

As the venue became tighter, the Co-Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee and respected priest, Ignatius Kattey and Mitee quickly took turns to address the crowd on the purpose of the meeting as directed by Tinubu.

Mpigo, while giving the vote of thanks urged the Ogoni people to unite, remain peaceful and put the past behind them.

Though the event scheduled for 1 pm started around 2:pm, in less than an hour the event was over as the VIPs jumped into their vehicles and zoomed off, as the youths became angry over the arrangement which was poorly organised.

Immediately, tempers started flaring and some youths displayed placards with several inscriptions calling for transparency in the ongoing talks.

One of the youths from Khana who gave his name as Emma said, “How can they call Ogoni people from four LGAs for the first meeting to one small place and expect to achieve results? It is not possible because many people will want to speak.

“The best thing they would have done is to begin the discussion from the kingdoms or the LGAs before calling an enlarged congress to harmonise the views”, he concluded.