The umbrella body of Ogoni youths worldwide, National Youth Council of Ogoni People, (NYCOP) has expressed support to the moves to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland.
In an interview, president of NYCOP, Comrade Raymond Nwibani said that the youths from the four local government areas of Ogoniland are calling for the oil resumption because the oil must be there forever.
” There is a need for us to harmonize our various interests to see what we have on the table. We are leaders of today, and so there is a need for us to understand and rally round the whole process. So I must say that the youths are interested in this”, he pushed.
He said while it is not possible for everyone to buy into the process at the same time, there are avenues for people to reach out and seek clarification on any grey area concerning the oil resumption.
“What we have kept telling the people is if you think your voice has not been heard, there are proper ways of reaching out, but as per what is going on,70 percent of Ogoni people and Ogoni youths in particular are interested in it. What is paramount is that the consultation has been broadbased”, the youth leader maintained.
Read also: Eleme presents position on resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland
He added that the major confidence boosting factor in the process is that those who make up the Ogoni Dialogue Committee are not politicians.
“The youths under me have so much confidence in the committee because if you observe critically those in the committee to be honest with you are not politicians. You know the likes of Prof. Don Baridam, Orage. Somebody like Archbishop Katttey has built a name overtime and he wouldn’t want anybody to pull him down now.
” I must say that the youths under me are in tandem with what is happening and we are okay with it”.
