Ogoni demand that Shell be expelled from Nigeria

NATIONAL UNION OF OGONI STUDENTS, USA
(NUOS INTL. USA)
3046 W. 77TH STREET (ANNEX)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60652
Ph. 773. 863. 1115,
Fax. 773. 572. 4544                
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://nuos-international.org

January 04, 2011

INDIGENOUS DAY MESSAGE PRESENTED BY MR. PIUS B. NWINEE ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF OGONI STUDENTS’ USA, JANUARY 04TH, 2011

Fellow Ogonis & Supporters,

Today is the eighteenth anniversary of the United Nations declaration of the “year of the indigenous peoples” around the world. As we mark this day with pomp and pageantry, we collaborate with MOSOP in sending compliments and good wishes to human rights, environmental groups, individuals, and governments around the world that aided Ogoni request for justice and equity. Ogoni struggle cannot be complete without you. Thank you.

We also use this medium to appeal for renewed energy toward the realization and actualization of the dreams of Ken Saro Wiwa, Africa’s foremost environmentalist. We should also admire an esteemed blueprint, the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) he left as footprint for Ogoni. This indigenous day celebration is taking place today because the world and the United Nations recognized the vulnerability of the over 300 indigenous groups around the world. The day should not only end with celebration but a resolve to confront society’s ills.

In one accord we could ride-off treachery, environmental racism, disguised slavery, murder, and genocide that have assumed new heights in various societies’ especially indigenous communities. Indigenous communities are the most vulnerable and so the Ogoni indigenous group use this occasion to call on the United Nations (UN) to commission a rapportuer to investigate the culpability of Royal Dutch Shell Plc in the death of Ogonis and patrons, Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others, Chief A.T Badey, Chief Theophilous Orage, Chief Edward Kobani, and Mr. Orage.

We also call on the Dutch parliament to use the grilling of Shell Oil Company slated for January 26th, 2011 to break its silence by requesting the company to pay fines worth $22 billion dollars to Ogoni people for environmental degradation as mandated by The Rivers State House of Assembly in 1994.

On same note, we demand that Nigeria President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria parliamentary leaders, Dr. David Mark and Honorable D. Bankole should emulate the footsteps of former President Dr. Musa Yar-Adua by instituting legislative proceedings mandating Shell Oil Company to explain its role in the destabilization of Ogoni, Odi, Umueche, and other Niger Delta communities.

In fact based on what the world knows about Shell Oil Company’s operation in Nigeria- murder, conspiracy to commit murder, bribery and racketeering, tax evasion, evasion of social responsibility, hiding of oil reserve, environmental damages, purchasing, and distribution of arms  we demand that the Nigeria National Assembly immediately expel  Shell Oil from Nigeria. Nigerians could no longer seat and watch a cankerworm bring back shackle of slavery, truncate its democracy, political system of government, and security.

We call on supporters of the Ogoni struggle to pressure Nigeria to exonerate Ken Saro Wiwa and other Ogoni compatriots murdered by General Sani Abacha. Ken Saro Wiwa did not commit any iota of crime, Shell Oil Company and the Nigerian governments are culpable in the killings of the Ogoni four. Lieutenant colonel Dauda Musa Komo and Major Paul okontimu point-men who spearheaded the murder, destruction and displacement of the Ogoni people should be immediately arrested. Nigeria should respect the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions resolution of the United Nations resolution 35/172 of 15 December 1980 which she is a signatory. The resolution grant victims the following right “Victims of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions should receive an adequate compensation from the state when the violation of the right to life was committed by a public official or other agents acting in an official or quasi-official capacity.” Nigeria should take steps in atonement for the wrongs done to the Ogoni people.

We also wish to warn Shell Oil Company, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), against the danger of back door negotiations with acclaimed stakeholders for instance “Ogoni Contact Group” and others affiliated to Mr. Ledum Mitee in respect to oil exploration in Ogoni. The danger is much and no one can guarantee the security of their employees and equipment because Shell Oil is not only a persona non grata in Ogoni but its appendages as well. We do not tolerate violence and as a transparency organization we are forewarning against such conspiracy.

As a panacea to lasting peace in Niger Delta, Nigeria should proceed with seriousness and create more states to correct the loft sidedness in Nigeria.  We urge President Goodluck Jonathan to create Bori State for the people of Ogoni, Andoni, Opobo, Nkoro, Eleme, and Oyigbo because it is not a privilege but a right guaranteed by the United Nations.

Once again, we thank Ogonis and numerous supporters for their steadfast commitments to the Ogoni struggle for the past eighteen years.   We demand that the United Nations should commission a rapportuer to re-visit the murder of Ken Saro Wiwa.  Nigeria should respect provision 35/172 of 1980 regarding extrajudicial murder of Ogoni people, and create Bori State for the Ogoni, Andoni, Eleme, Opobo, Nkoro, and Oyigbo as of right.
We wish you all happy Ogoni Day celebration.

Signed,

Mr. Pius B. Nwinee, President
For: NUOS International, USA

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