Protests Disrupt Tinubu’s Oil Resumption Plan In Ogoni

• Protests disrupt Ogoni oil resumption congress in Bori.
• MOSOP, diaspora groups demand Ken Saro-Wiwa’s exoneration first.
• Tinubu’s oil plans face setback amid rising opposition.

Efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resume oil production in Ogoniland faced a major setback on Saturday as protests disrupted a planned congress in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the congress, organized by a group set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, aimed to sensitize Ogoni communities on the proposed resumption of oil production.

However, aggrieved protesters stormed the venue, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Ledum Mitee and Ribadu, Leave Ogoni Alone,” “On Ogoni Development Authority We Stand,” and “Exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa.”

The disruption reflects growing dissatisfaction among Ogoni groups over the handling of the oil resumption process. The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), a key voice in the region’s struggle, has accused the NSA of sidelining it from negotiations. MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke warned that excluding the group could breed distrust among the people, stating, “The struggle of the Ogoni people has been championed by MOSOP for decades.

Our people are conscious of the sensitive situation and will rely on our position on the way forward.” MOSOP also expressed concerns that the rushed process could fuel tensions, anxiety, and crisis in Ogoniland.

Adding to the resistance, the Ken Saro-Wiwa Exoneration Campaign (KSWEC), a coalition of civil society groups, has demanded greater transparency in the negotiations.

The group insists that no progress can be made in Ogoni without the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others, who were executed by the Nigerian government on November 10, 1995, following a controversial trial under General Sani Abacha’s regime. KSWEC has also called for a panel to investigate the 1994 killings of four Ogoni leaders, which preceded Saro-Wiwa’s execution.

Opposition to the oil resumption plan extends beyond Nigeria, with Ogoni diaspora communities in the United States and Canada condemning the government’s approach. In a joint statement, the groups reiterated their demand for the exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and his fellow activists before any dialogue on oil resumption takes place.

The protests and rising opposition pose a significant challenge to President Tinubu’s administration, which has been working to resolve the Ogoni oil crisis. Last week, Tinubu approved the establishment of a University of Environmental Technology in Ogoniland, a move seen as an attempt to foster goodwill.

Protests disrupt Ogoni oil resumption congress in Bori.
MOSOP, diaspora groups demand Ken Saro-Wiwa’s exoneration first.
Tinubu’s oil plans face setback amid rising opposition

However, the latest developments suggest that deeper engagement with Ogoni stakeholders and addressing historical grievances will be crucial to achieving lasting peace and progress in the region.

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