…as Ministry of Niger Delta affairs undertakes to mobilize contractors to site in one month.
Following the intervention of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Ogoni Youth Federation [ an umbrella organization of Ogoni youths and youth groups operating in Ogoniland of the Niger Delta, centered on advocacy for good governance, social justice, economic interventions, communal cooperation, and environmental protection] has suspended its planned “mother of all protest season 2” earlier scheduled to take place on Tuesday the 1st of March, 2022.
The protest was hinged on the deplorable state of the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road Section III (Eleme Junction-Onne), which is the economic epicenter and of the Nigerian and West African Oil and Gas Industry Logistics; and was scheduled to hold jointly with the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone, the Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition and other groups for a period of one month.
The decision to suspend the protest was reached today (Friday 25.02.22) at a meeting held at the Rivers State Police Headquarters, Moscow Road, at the instance of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, together with officials of the Federal Ministry of Niger Affairs, the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, and Executives of Ogoni Youth Federation; Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone; Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition; Ogoni Ex-militants Forum and other participating groups.
The protest is being suspended due to the undertaking signed by the Officials of the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to commence construction of the road within a period of one month commencing from March 1, 2022.
Attached herewith is a copy of the undertaking.
Therefore, Ogoni youths/ Niger Delta Youths and other lovers of sustainable development who were in solidarity with this move are enjoined by this message to stay calm and return to base for a period of one month, as we give them a benefit of doubt and explore other strategies for this same advocacy in the collective interest of all stakeholders and the overall development of our people.
Signed:
- Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana, President-General Ogoni Youth Federation;
- Comrade Ibim Ibiwari, JP, Chairman, IYC, Eastern Zone;
- Tamunobele Tamunoimama, Secretary-General, Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition;
- Prince Mahmoud Kirirka, Leader, Ogoni Ex-militants Forum
