A Correspondent from States Media Team, Rivers State,
Mazi Chibueze Uchemchukwu, conducted an Interview with the Spokesperson of
Indigenous Youth Forum (IYF) Mr P. Joseph.
Question: Please
can you talk about the formation of Indigenous Youth Forum - IYF?
IYF SPOKESMAN: The
group cuts across the entire Niger Delta region and tasked to represent the
interests of the people in the Oil industry. The IYC was born out of the
failure of Movement For Ogoni People (MOSOP) to sustain its purpose of
formation by Late Ken Saro Wiwa. Since the death of Saro Wiwa, there has been
different break ups in MASOP, several groups with different leadership with
sole purpose of making money for themselves. They have no clear objective to
the pains of the depraved People. This recklessness which has led to various
uprisings, has led to the death of over 400 Indigenous People Of Ogoni. This is
why Ogoni is in disarray.
Question: Please,
can you intimate me with the role or duty of your Office as the IYF Spokesman?
IYF Spokesman: I am the spokesman for the Indigenous
Youth Forum, which embraces the entire Niger Delta States and my primary duty
is to tell the world what the People of Niger Delta agrees on, in every matter
as it regards to their interests in the Oil industry.
Question: Please,
tell me the true situation of things in Ogoni land with regards to the daily
uprising with Shell Petroleum and Federal Government?
IYF Spokesman: The
truth about the situation in Ogoni land is that there has been serious and
steady crisis but there seem to be some sort of indifference by the Government
and Nigerian Media.
The crisis in Ogoni land is a grand plan by Shell
Petroleum and Government to kill and intimidate the people of Ogoni into
submission of their Human Rights. Recall that President Buhari once announced
that the drilling of OML 11 Oil field in Ogoni land was going to resume in
April this year but the crisis has increased instead because there is no Truth.
Question: What
is the cause of the crisis in Ogoni land?
IYF Spokesman: The
crisis in Ogoni is not just the resistance of the people of Ogoni but there is
a gang up or Joint forces that disguised as cultists, they invade Villages and
kill the people of the Community and walk away. As it stands now, the entire People
of Khana LGA are not at Home. Everybody has fled the Community and the aged and
sick who could not run were killed. My observation is that there is a prime
target by the assailants which is, to waste the Youths of Ogoni. This is the
way Shell operates. They always target the people that will be of resistance to
their exploitations, they will set war amongst them and heads would roll.
Question: Please
could you elaborate more on the role of Shell Petroleum in all of these crises?
IYF SPOKESMAN: The
main interest of Shell is the Oil and anything that stands against it, is
targeted for elimination. From the early 90's Ogoni have lost their brilliant
young men to Shell, men whose only crime is attempting to speak against the impoverishment
and hazards faced by the people. Even after the United Nations (UN) ruled
against further drilling of Oil in Ogoni land until Clean-Up of the Oil
spillage is done, the Government of Nigeria and Shell have refused to carry out
this instruction. Today, they are speaking of commencing Oil drilling and not
Cleaning up of the environment, thereby igniting more flames to the already
burning fire.
Question: What
is the effect of the Oil spillage in the Community?
IYF SPOKESMAN: The
hazards from Oil spillage to the residents of the area cannot be over
emphasized. People have died from Cancer and different terminal ailments
related to Benzene chemical inhalation from the hazards caused by Shell
Petroleum through Pollution. The Fishes in the waters have been wiped out due
to Oil spillages, this has shut down the business of Fishing which is the major
industry of an average Ogoni Person.
Question: Why
is there crisis amongst the people of Ogoni land?
IYF SPOKESMAN: Shell
Petroleum is the major player and force in the Crisis. Their sole interest is
to kill and destroy anybody that stands on their way to Oil drilling. I can
authoritatively tell you that Shell is now killing the men of Ogoni using
Cultism in disguise. Since the beginning of this year, there is no school in
session in Khana LGA, Homes have been razed down, the people have fled their
Villages in fear of the Murderous Cult Group formed by Shell.
Question: From
your narration, it appears that Shell Petroleum was drilling in Ogoni, at what
point did they stop and why?
IYF SPOKESMAN: Yes,
Shell was drilling in Ogoni land especially the location in contention OML-11.
Nigeria has special interest in the crude from this particular location because
of the quality and its uniqueness compared to the Oil from other locations. The
crude from here is called BURNING LIGHT, it's costlier than others in the
International Market. Please also note, the People of Ogoni are not saying that
the Government should not Drill Oil from here. What we are saying is, they
should first Clean-up the harmful spillages and control the Pollution as agreed
upon with the United Nation. But rather than go by this honourable means, they
resolved to forcefully access the Oil Wells, killing and maiming the Indigenous
People while causing more havoc to the environment. So, you can see that it is
because of the importance of this very crude that the Government and Shell are
bent on wiping out the people from this area and occupy it.
Question: We
have heard the Federal Government on several occasions say, they are embarking
on Clean-Up in Ogoni land. What is the true situation?
IYF SPOKESMAN: The
Clean-Up of Ogoni was a resolution by the United Nations to restore a lasting
Peace and fairness. Unfortunately, the Shell Petroleum and Government of
Nigeria are not ready to carry out this instruction. Each time you hear them
talk about Clean-Up, IT IS A SCAM. Ogoni is still polluted. What the Government
is rather talking about is building Prisons Military barracks and Cemetery in
Ogoni land. They have also recruited some youths of the community whom they use
to cause mayhem against their People. The person of Ateke Tom for instance has
been bought over by Shell to cause war amongst his people.
Question: What
is the role of the State Government in all of these?
IYF SPOKESMAN: There
is no Government run in Rivers State without the Ogoni having at least 4
Commissioners. We are not ignored by the State because in Ogoni we have the
needed number that determines who takes which position at the State.
Question: Considering
the fact that you have the largest number to effect any decision at the State
level, why hasn't Ogoni achieved their demand for Clean-Up?
IYF SPOKESMAN: The
people cannot come together to achieve anything because as I speak, there is no
single Meeting or gathering of the people to push their demand to fruition
because Shell has caused a lot of disharmony amongst the people. You can't get
any form of synergy for the betterment of the community.
Question: What
is the way out of this quagmire?
IYF SPOKESMAN: The
only logical means out of this seeming dead-end is a total Support for the
Restoration of BIAFRA through the Platform of Indigenous People Of Biafra -
IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This is so because even the few
surviving Leaders of Ogoni land are under subjugation, they have been so
subdued by poverty and they sustain a living by picking the crumbs from the
Government and Shell. So, I have tried to sound the need to join IPOB as best
option today. Nigeria, can no longer be fixed. All Ogoni People should realize
that IPOB is the only uniting Force, it is the only stable and reliable Group
that have the capacity to resolve all the problems piled up in Ogoni. The only
name that shakes Government of Nigeria is Biafra. IPOB is a big force that
shakes even the Northerners.
Question: What's
your advice to the people of Ogoni at this critical time?
IYF SPOKESMAN: My
candid advice is, let every man and woman join IPOB Family. Those staying
overseas, should join their brothers and be very active. My people must stop
criticizing IPOB from a distance, they should join the struggle first and ask
questions in any area that is not clear to them. They must stop criticizing
from outside. Their fears can only be cleared when they are inside the family.
End....
Reported by:
Chibueze Uchemchukwu
For: Rivers State Media
Edited by:
Ngozichukwu Ada-Dav
For: Rivers State Media
Published by:
Chibuike John Nebeokike
For: Rivers State Media
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