Ogoni Links Rotimi Amaechi’s Government with Bombs
While Diigbo writes Mexican Government not to support bombs for investment in Ogoni
MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo has said the Ogoni self-government will welcome international economic
cooperation for development investments that has nothing to do with the use of force of arms.
“We are not against international economic development activities and global trade; we need them, but not such that
operate behind security shield without prior, informed consent of the Ogoni people,” Diigbo stated.
Diigbo said this while reacting to the Guardian online report today August 16, 2012 ona massive explosion near an
imposed banana plantation at Ueken community in Tai kingdom of Ogoni.
The initiative shrouded in secrecy is between Rivers State and a Mexican agricultural firm: Union De Iniciativa S.A. De C.V.
On the question of who is behind it: I hold Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State Government policy responsible. He has been
bent on using violence to drive the Ogoni people into the bush. This is the result of his dumb policy for land grab. If
those improvised lethal devices were planted to justify false media reports that Ogoni youth are armed with automatic
weapons; I also advise that Amaechi must not introduce violence through the back door into MOSOP. We still have
confidence in nonviolence, appropriate for our civilization, not primitive and violent policy of land grab,” Diigbo
contended.
“Whether the bombs were imported or manufactured in Ogoni, I am deeply apprehensive. Politicians in Nigeria who so often
dismiss disputes that can be settled through dialogue must see these bombs in Ogoni as a bad sign. It means that bombs
in northern Nigeria, are also plenty deep down South,” Diigbo pointed out.
“When I set up a committee to look into the plantain plantation dispute in June 2012, I said each community is free to
initiate investment project, but not to join the irresponsible government in Port Harcourt to use force of arms to seize
others’ lands. I have written to the Mexican Ambassador in Abuja, Nigeria today, August 16, 2012 (see letter below). I
proposed that MOSOP will like to bring together the Mexican company: Union De Iniciativa S.A. De C.V. of Mexico and aggrieved communities. We want to cooperate for development activities, not with the use of force as the basis for
our cooperation. Any investment initiative behind security shield is not welcome to Ogoni. Anglo-Royal Dutch/Shell
teaches that Ogoni doesn’t accept such land grab policy,” Diigbo concluded.
Tambari Deekor
Associate Editor, MOSOP Media
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Letter to Mexican Ambassador:
DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST THE OGONI PEOPLE BY A MEXICAN COMPANY
Ambassador,
Embassy of Mexico in Abuja
39 Usuma Street
Maitama District
Abuja
Nigeria
Dear Ambassador,
I write to let you know upon what terms the Union De Inciativa S.A. De C.V., a Mexican company may consider to think of establishing a banana plantation in Ogoni.
It must be based on prior, informed consent of the Ogoni people whose lands have been illegally appropriated for a
banana plantation by the Union De Inciativa.
My understanding right now, is that some people in Ueken in Tai Kingdom of Ogoni, whose lands were seized at gunpoint,
later accepted compensation and are in support of the plantation. However, not all the Ueken people have accepted as
others rejected the confiscation of their ancestral and sacred lands.
There are also several other affected communities whose ancestral and sacred lands have been seized at gunpoint. Those
victims are vehemently resisting the plantation proposal. The operators of the Mexican company appear defiant, but such
attitude is a violation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as applicable to the
Ogoni people.
MOSOP - the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People and the newly established indigenous self-government of the
Ogoni do not want companies to operate behind security shield in Ogoniland. We maintain the principle of nonviolence and
view what the Mexican company is doing as a declaration of war against the Ogoni people.
We do not want war. We want nonviolence and peace. The making of war is the undoubted prerogative of the government of
Mexico, not a private company. If the company can come to Ogoni and wage war, no matter who backs the company in
Nigeria, it means that the Mexican government wants war, if it fails to check such belligerent behavior.
In order to make peace, I want to convey to you that the Union De Inciativa must suspend its activities in Ogoniland.
Then, MOSOP will arrange a forum for dialogue to determine the future of the plantain plantation. This can lead to a
roadmap for present and future cooperation between the Ogoni people and Mexican. We are not against international
economic cooperation for development. But, we do not agree with the Rivers State government, which does not represent or
speak for the Ogoni people.
We want development very much, but not in the way the plantain plantation is imposed. Let Mexico not be misled as the
Anglo-Royal Dutch/Shell before it got into trouble with the Ogoni people. To defy this appeal for peace, will mean that
the plantain plantation will never succeed.
See below a link to a report on bomb blasts reported on site yesterday, August 15, 2012.
Development activities should not be turned into warfare in Ogoni.
This matter requires your urgent attention and action to avoid the situation getting out of control.
Thank you.
Dr. Goodluck Diigbo
MOSOP President/Spokesman
ENDS