Oil War Looms: MOSOP Calls Out NSA For ‘Dishonest Dialogue’, Insists On Royalties For Ogoni Development

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has fiercely criticized the ongoing peace talks facilitated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, labeling the process as “dishonest and exclusionary.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

MOSOP expressed dismay at being left out of the negotiations and insisted that any discussions about the region’s future must be transparent, inclusive, and rooted in justice. The group reaffirmed its long-standing demand that 20% of all resource extraction profits be dedicated to infrastructure and development projects in Ogoni communities.

Speaking during a press conference in Beera, Gokana Local Government Area, Celestine Viura, leader of the Forum of Kingdom Coordinators and Chapters of MOSOP (FKCCL MOSOP), voiced support for the proposed Ogoni Development Authority (ODA). However, he emphasized that any oil company operating in the region must commit to allocating 20% of its profits towards local development.

“The FKCCL MOSOP supports the ODA initiative as a viable solution to the longstanding Ogoni struggle,” Viura stated. “It reflects the demands expressed in the Ogoni Bill of Rights and was overwhelmingly endorsed during the Ogoni National Congress held on November 30, 2024.”

Viura rejected the ONSA-led peace talks, describing them as an attempt to mislead the public and sideline the legitimate leadership of MOSOP.

“We categorically reject these ongoing negotiations. They are deceptive and were conducted without the input of MOSOP, the voice that truly represents the Ogoni people. This is a calculated attempt by ONSA to undermine our struggle and falsely portray Ogonis as directionless,” Viura declared.

He further accused the NSA’s office of trying to redefine Ogoni demands and rewrite history. “For over 30 years, our movement has clearly stated its demands. ONSA has no authority to dictate what the Ogoni people need.”

MOSOP also renewed its call for an investigation into the 1994 murders of four prominent Ogoni leaders—Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, Mr. Albert Badey, and Chief Theophilus Orage—as well as the decriminalization of the Ogoni Nine, who were executed under the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995.

The group condemned what it termed the use of “divide-and-conquer tactics” by the government and warned against the use of state force to impose oil production on a people still battling unresolved grievances.

Viura appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, urging him to stop any ONSA-led efforts that could destabilize the region. He warned that attempting to resume oil production without meaningful dialogue and redress could spark renewed unrest.

“We are calling for a just and collaborative approach to solving the Ogoni crisis,” Viura said. “With over 4,000 lives lost to state-backed persecution, it is unjust for the federal government to consider oil resumption amid widespread dissent.”

In conclusion, MOSOP urged the federal government to engage in genuine, honest, and development-focused dialogue, pledging its willingness to cooperate if negotiations are conducted with sincerity and respect for the Ogoni people’s demands.