The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has said it will no longer meet with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, next week to discuss the progress recorded in the ongoing clean-up exercise in Ogoniland, Rivers state.
According to the group, the decision to boycott the meeting was based on what it described as “the dishonesty of government” in the Kachikwu-led process.
A statement by MOSOP Publicity Secretary, Fegalo Nsuke, said the group did not agree to the simultaneous resumption of oil exploration activities in Ogoniland while the clean-up exercise continues as said in the invitation letter to the stakeholders’ meeting.
The statement reads in part: “We consider the comment on oil resumption in Ogoniland not only as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the focus of our petition to the minister but a mischievous means to delay the process of restoring our polluted environment.
“We note our disapproval and disappointment in this statement as it clearly indicates the dishonesty of government and questions the integrity of the Ibe Kachikwu-led process.
“The misrepresentations in the invitation letter are therefore not only deceitful, they are a deliberate and mischievous attempt to incite the people against the leadership of MOSOP.
“After a thorough assessment of the situation, MOSOP has decided to dissociate itself from the meeting of July 9, 2018 as the manipulations to favour oil resumption in Ogoniland dents the credibility and integrity of the entire process.”
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