Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Leaders and people of Ogoniland have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged attempts by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to undermine the ongoing Federal Government–Ogoni dialogue aimed at resolving the decades-long Ogoni crisis.

The petition was submitted under the auspices of Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), formerly known as Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, a group of concerned Ogoni stakeholders advocating peace, justice, and sustainable development in Ogoniland.

In a statement yesterday by COOP’s leader and spokesman, Chief Gani Topba, the group expressed strong support for the dialogue and peace process being facilitated by National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as the most credible effort so far to address the long-standing Ogoni question.

COOP alleged that Wike had been engaging in actions intended to frustrate the dialogue, tracing the dispute to unresolved issues from his tenure as governor of Rivers State.

The group said the controversy was linked to a long-standing compensation dispute between the Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) over environmental damage claims that were decided in favour of the community.

COOP stated that the Rivers State government became deeply involved in the matter during Wike’s administration, a development that had remained contentious and unresolved in public discourse.

COOP further alleged that during the recent visit of the NSA to Ogoniland, political associates of the FCT minister were instructed to boycott and undermine the engagement. The group claimed that efforts were deliberately made to sabotage the dialogue at the community level.

Raising security concerns, COOP alleged that armed youths recruited from different parts of Rivers State were currently being mobilised and camped around the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, allegedly, to destabilise the peace process.

The group also claimed that Wike was displeased with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, for cooperating with the NSA to ensure the success of the Ogoni dialogue.

COOP alleged that local government chairmen in Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana local government areas were directed to recruit armed youths to disrupt the dialogue and frustrate the proposed resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland.

COOP warned that if the alleged actions were not checked, they could pose serious threats to public peace and security in Rivers State and derail the fragile but promising dialogue process.