The Niger Delta Coalition Vision (NDCV) has strongly condemned a recent statement attributed to the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), which called for the removal of Chief Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The statement, signed by Alaowei Amawari, Victor Oleh, Donald Benneth, Lovina Charles, Simeipiri Kiki, and Chike Chile on behalf of the NDCV, described MOSOP’s statement as “regrettable, reckless, and capable of inciting ethnic tension in the Niger Delta region.”
“We question why MOSOP would permit such a statement, as the issue could have been addressed through dialogue and constructive engagement,” said Amawari, a spokesperson for NDCV. “We are deeply concerned about individuals and groups in the region resorting to issuing provocative press commentaries that could sow division.”
The NDCV emphasized the shared goal of seeking justice in social, economic, environmental, and resource matters, highlighting that the entire Niger Delta region has shown solidarity with the Ogoni cause despite also being victims of environmental degradation and exploitation by oil multinationals.
The statement also questioned MOSOP’s demand for Ogbuku’s removal, noting that no oil has been extracted from Ogoni land for about 30 years. It suggested that MOSOP should focus on resolving this issue rather than making provocative statements.
NDCV cautioned MOSOP and other ethnic and socio-cultural organizations in the Niger Delta against making expressions that could inflame ethnic tensions and undermine the existing peace in the region. The coalition urged the public and the government to disregard MOSOP’s call.
The NDCV commended the NDDC’s Board and Management for successfully hosting the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit 2024, the first of its kind in the region, in Port Harcourt.
The NDCV is a group advocating for peace and development in the Niger Delta, while MOSOP has been a prominent voice in the region, advocating for the rights of the Ogoni people.
