Ogonis Vow To Continue To Agitate For Justice

After presiding over the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), for the past 16 years since the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni martyrs, Mr. Ledum Mitee declared he was bowing out as President.

Just as he predicted that the  darkest days of the Ogoni people were over, Anglo-Dutch Shell now admits that it is largely responsible for the suffering of the Ogonis.

Mitee made the declaration today while speaking at a special service to mark the 16th anniversary of the Ogoni martyrs at the All Saints Anglican Church Cathedral in Bori, Khana local government area of Rivers State, southsouth Nigeria.

“Three months ago, Shell was forced to admit liability over oil spills in Bodo community as well as the jurisdiction of the English court over the case. This is just a precursor to more that is to come as we are in advanced stages of consultations to commence other similar cases against the company abroad.”

The MOSOP leader stated that the murder of thirteen Ogoni leaders was the darkest period in the people’s struggle for justice, describing them as martyrs.

“The murders of the Ogoni 13, as we refer to our martyrs, were no doubt the darkest period in our struggle for justice, but I do assure that in spite of the challenges, our darkest days are  over.

“Just last month, the US Supreme Court also decided that US courts can and should hear a case against Shell over claims that the company paid troops of the Internal Security Task Force to torture the Ogoni people for protesting against their operations on our land,” he said.

Mitee announced that he would not be seeking re-election as the leader of MOSOP, but promised to continue supporting the course of the Ogonis and the Niger Delta as a whole.

On the delay in the implementation of the UNEP report, Mitee said the Ogoni people will continue its peaceful protest in Lagos,  the headquarters of Anglo-Dutch Shell in Lagos .

He warned that “if Ogonis do not receive favourable response soon, peaceful protests would be taken to  the federal capital, Abuja  and thereafter  lay our case before the United Nations.”

The Ogoni martyrs include, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Chief Edward Kobani, Albert Badey, Chief Samuel Orage, John Kpuinen, Chief Theophilus Orage, Dr. Barinem Kiobel,Daniel Gbokoo, Baribor Bera, Paul Levura, Nordu Eawo, Felix Nuate and Saturday Dobee.

By Okafor Ofiebor /Porthacourt