Worried by the pervasive agitations and complains from many Ogoni stakeholders against its activities in the ongoing engagement with the federal government on the prospect of resuming oil exploration in Ogoni, the Ogoni Dialogue Committee has sent a ‘Safe Our Soul’ plea to the National Security Adviser. Nuhu Ribadu.
Recall that Ribadu is the one appointed by President Bola Tinubu to lead the federal government’s interface with the Ogoni towards resuming oil activities in Ogoni land.
In a letter signed by the Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, Prof. Don Baridam, he raised alarm over what he described as unfounded rumours and allegations against members of the dialogue committee and sought the intervention of Ribadu to provide clarity and calm tempers within Ogoni communities.
While asserting the incorruptibility of members of the committee, the chairman however urged the federal government through Ribadu to religiously implement the identified confidence building measures to reassure the people of its commitment.
The committee urged the federal government to publicly address and clarify the unfounded allegations against the committee and its facilitators, to safeguard their integrity and mitigate the threats arising from the media campaign against them.
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It urged the government to address the entire Ogoni delegation, with particular attention to persons promoting the media war against the dialogue process, to halt actions capable of undermining, frustrating, or derailing the process.
The committee called on government to prevail on all Ogoni stakeholders to pursue concerns through constructive dialogue and established channels.
It urged relevant federal government institutions to begin implementing the commitments and demands already accepted by the federal government.
The committee requested an engagement with the leadership of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to return to site and commence work on the Ogoni Industrial Park.
It further tasked government to facilitate renewed attention to funding and completion of the East-West Road project and support for the smooth operation of the Federal University of Environmental Technology.
The committee urged government to facilitate the production and signing of an interim agreement on all mutually agreed demands.
The committee expressed firm.commitment to a peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and mutually beneficial resolution of all outstanding issues.
It expressed optimism and trust in the Ribadu’s continued wisdom, leadership, and intervention to protect the integrity of the dialogue process and guide it to a successful conclusion.
