Chaos Erupts As Senator, APC Deputy Chairman Flee Ogoni Oil Meeting Amid Rising Tensions

Tension flared in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni land, on Saturday as a planned congress on the resumption of oil exploration in the region ended abruptly due to disorganization and escalating tempers among attendees.

President Bola Tinubu had recently met with Ogoni leaders in Abuja, urging them to consult their communities regarding the proposed resumption of oil activities and report back with their findings.

In response, a congress was scheduled at the Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, drawing Ogoni representatives from Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme LGAs. By the 1 PM start time, the venue was overcrowded, with hundreds more outside, forcing organizers to shift the meeting to an open field to accommodate the growing crowd.

Prominent figures in attendance included Senator Barry Mpigo (Rivers South-East), Chief Victor Giadom, Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ledum Mitee, former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and Ignatius Kattey, Co-Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee.

The meeting, which began around 2 PM, lasted less than an hour. After brief remarks from leaders—Mitee and Kattey explained the meeting’s purpose while Senator Mpigo called for unity and peace among the Ogoni people—VIPs swiftly exited the venue. This abrupt departure angered many youths, who felt the process was disorganized and lacked inclusivity.

According to The PUNCH, the sudden conclusion of the congress triggered protests from frustrated youths, who displayed placards demanding transparency in the consultation process.

Emma, a youth leader from Khana LGA, criticized the arrangement, stating, “How can they invite Ogoni people from four LGAs to a small venue and expect meaningful results? Many people wanted to speak. The better approach would have been to start discussions at the kingdom or LGA level before holding a larger congress to unify the views.”

The chaotic end of the meeting has raised concerns about whether genuine and comprehensive consultations will occur before final decisions are made on resuming oil exploration in Ogoni land.