Ogoni oil resumption: Women seek compensation, dialogue

As consultations continue over resumption of crude oil drilling in Ogoniland, some women organisations are making demands before oil resumption can take place in the area.

The women in a press conference held in PortHarcourt, the Rivers State capital, maintained that the position of women cannot be wished away, because of the strategic position they occupy in the Ogoni struggle, having suffered ecological devastation during oil exploitation in the area.

The women explained that it was due to the colossal damage done to the Ogoni environment that led to the demands in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, noting that the Bill describes the Ogoni case, as a genocide, committed in the dying years of the twentieth century, by multi-national oil companies, under the supervision of the federal government.

Lezina Patrick Ntep-tep, one of the conveners of “Ladies of Tai,” stated that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), left unbelievable ecological consequences with the years of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

She said that the Movement of the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), have earlier demanded fairer benefits to the Ogoni people from oil wealth, especially on the issue of compensation for ecological damage, caused by oil activities.

Kabari Patricia, from Lekeh Development Foundation, who addressed journalists on behalf of the group, stressed that the concerns expressed in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, is yet to be addressed, as the case for justice for those killed during the struggle has not been actualised.

Patience Osarojiji, called on the committee and the federal government to deliberately consult and include women in all deliberations going on before oil resumption can take place, while the committee should consider the issue of livelihood for the women, since they suffered most during the oil pollution.

The women stated that no apology has been rendered for the environment destroyed, noting that the women have been left out since most of their livelihoods have been totally destroyed.

They concluded that the injustice against the Ogoni people should be addressed, as a panacea for oil resumption in Ogoniland.

The women warned that unless the federal government take their demands into consideration that they may take to the streets, to protest against oil resumption, since they are the most impacted from the oil pollution.