Ogoni Youths Support Planned Resumption of Oil Exploration

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A group under the aegis of Ogoni Youths Stakeholders (OYS) has expressed its support for the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland in Rivers State.

The youths of Babbe, Eleme, Gokana, Ken-Khana, Nyokhana and Tai Kingdoms, together with the Bori Capital Territory and Ban Ogoi Special Area of Ogoniland and other Niger Delta Communities, after a an extraordinary meeting of the body in Port Harcourt, said the move would revive economic activities in Ogoni.

Reacting to the recent meeting of stakeholders from Rivers on the planned oil resumption, the group regretted their non-involvement in the meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja.

The Convener of the group, Leborsi Yamaabana, who is also the President General of OYF, while reading the resolution of the meeting, said the group backed the move to resume oil business at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11/51 Ogoni Fields.

They commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, the Governor of Rivers State, Siminialayi Fubara and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike for embarking on the process to assemble the Ogoni delegation, for the meeting in Abuja.

Yamaabana said the youths welcome the idea, but regretted that youth were not carried along in the meeting that would shape the feature of the people, expressing confidence that the model to be adopted would favour the oil bearing communities.

He said: “We welcome the idea of oil exploration activities in Ogoniland, as we believe the modus operandi this time would be different from what was obtainable in the past. We shall support our leaders to make this come to pass.

“Ogoni Youth Stakeholders observe with mixed feelings the fact that a critical component of youths and women stakeholders were excluded from the meeting with the President.

“However, we are not opposed to oil production and therefore express confidence in the National Security Adviser’s appointment to deepen this conversation whilst urging him to harmonize and bring together all stakeholders’ interests, particularly young people, for a smooth and robust discussion for results.”

Yamaabana noted that the omission of youths in the high profile meeting did not go down well with the youths, urging the government to take all necessary steps to include youths in further engagements that border on oil resumption in the area.

“This oversight does not augur well for us, but with love and humility to our leaders, we appeal for a proper inclusion and representation moving forward.

“Because the youths are the future and the leaders of tomorrow, and if we are not properly incorporated into the scheme of things of importance today, then we may get it all wrong tomorrow when the leaders of today eventually take a bow and leave the stage,”  Yamaabana said.