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Nigeria: Amnesty not enough to solve the Niger Delta Crisis

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]

www.nuos-international.org

November 10, 2009

Press Release/

For Immediate Release

Nigeria: Amnesty not enough to solve the Niger Delta Crisis

We, the Ogoni Students in diaspora under the auspices of the National Union of Ogoni Students, USA, today 11/10/2009 commemorate with the rest of the world the judicial murder of 9 Ogoni leaders (Ken Saro Wiwa, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Saturday Doobee, Nordu Eawo, Paul Levura, Felix Nuateh, Baribo Beera, and Daniel Gboko).

For the past fourteen years, we have used this occasion to appeal to successive Nigerian authorities including that of President Yar-Adua to exonerate Ken Saro Wiwa’s name from criminal records. We reiterate this quest and call for the following for the Ogoni People:

– Create a state for the Ogoni people and our neighbors of Andoni, Opobo, and Ndoki.

– Demilitarize Ogoni by recalling the following terror groups immediately- Joint Security Task Force, Bomb Disposal Unit, Internal Security Task Force, MOPOL 56 with 9 Check points, and The Federal Police.

– Compel Hon. Chibuke Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State to STOP the relocation of the 2nd Second Amphibious brigade from Ikwerre (Port-Harcourt) to Sogho in Nyo Khana Kingdom of Ogoni. We need electricity, Libraries, Health Care, Schools and Commerce in Ogoni.  Ogoni Students view this sudden military occupation and terror of our territory as a ploy to intimidate us while Shell Oil extracts our oil without consultation.

– Address Ogoni issues presented to Nigerian Government in Ogoni Bill of Rights.

– That NO government stake holders will be imposed on our people. Every Ogoni is a stake holder in the Ogoni affairs and wealth.

– Upgrade the Bori polytechnic to a University. This will enhance greater manpower to the Niger Delta Youths.

Last October, President Yar-Adua offered to send a bill to the National Assembly to “allocate 10% of Nigeria’s oil joint ventures to Niger Delta residents.” This is not a permanent solution to the Niger Delta crisis. We urge Mr. President to send a bill on the creation of States for viable groups to the national assembly because this is a panacea to the problem. We reiterate that, it is only when additional states are created in the Niger Delta that some of the present crisis would be addressed. We also recommend the establishment of an Educational Trust Fund similar to that of Alaska, USA permanent fund, for students of Niger Delta origin instead of 10% cash allocation.

Recently, we read a statement credited to Mr. Peter Voser, Shell’s Chief Executive Officer that “Shell was planning to hold workshops to train former militants on how to form and run businesses.” Shell Oil is only meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs. Shell needs to clean up its mess in the Niger Delta. Shell Oil has been declared persona non grata in Ogoni; those calling for Shell’s return to Ogoni do so at their own peril.

On October 15, 2009, Nigeria was elected a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. We applaud the UN Security Council and its president, Ali Treki for the election. Nigeria is perceived as a “regional power” but Nigeria is a disappointment to its citizens as human rights and justices are continually abused. As Amnesty international pointed out, for Nigeria to be a respected and responsible member of the UN Security Council, it must, “comply with international and human rights obligations; improve access to justice and protect human rights in the Niger Delta.” If the world must respect Nigeria, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu should covey to her home government that: Nigeria Should comply with the United Nations fact finding mission in Ogoni: “Set up a process of paying compensation to the relatives of the Ogoni activists executed on November 10, 1995; and undertake a review of laws affecting the relations of oil companies with the communities in which they operate, including the land use Act, the petroleum production and distribution (Anti- Sabotage) Act, the petroleum decree and its subsidiary legislation, and other laws regulating payment of compensation to damage to livelihoods caused by oil operation, with a view to ensuring that those adversely affected are protected by due process of law.”

On this day, we call on the Ogoni people to remain steadfast to our cause. We chose non-violence in pursuit of our demands and we shall WIN! Non Violence is not a sign of weakness. A day is coming when those in authority will plead to follow our demands as stated in the OBR.

Long live Ogoni!  Long Live Niger Delta! Long Live all freedom fighters around the world!!!

KorneBari Nwike – President

Austin Lemea – Secretary

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