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Call Wike To Order, MOSOP-USA Tells Tinubu …Gives Conditions For Resumption Of Oil Production In Ogoni
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, United States chapter, (MOSOP-USA) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to control the excesses of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whose activities have allegedly stiffened and threatened the President’s government.
MOSOP USA, in a statement by his President, DineBari Augustine Kpuinen, also wanted the President to “investigate the $300 million belonging to the Ogoni people paid by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) as compensation, allegedly embezzled by Wike.
“MOSOP USA needs peace in Rivers State. We need Nyesom Wike to stop terrorising the sitting Governor, Sim Fubara. We call on the President to prevail on Nyesom Wike to allow the sitting governor to manage the affairs of Rivers State in peace, just as he was allowed to govern when he was governor and prepare to pay the Ogoni people money meant for the development he embezzled.”
The group also chastised some Ogonis who it described as “greedy, self-centered Ogoni indigents, government agents, and saboteurs, who have consistently undermined Ogoni efforts to be self-governed within the Nigerian state.”
According to Kpuinen, “There is confirmed information reaching MOSOP-USA that some greedy, self-centered Ogoni indigents, government agents, and saboteurs, who have consistently undermined Ogoni efforts to be self-governed within the Nigerian state, have gone to Abuja to meet with President Bola Tinubu to negotiate oil resumption in Ogoni.”
The statement, therefore, called on Tinubu to heed the four conditions the group has set for the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
“These are not arbitrary demands but crucial prerequisites that must be met before such operations commence”, it said.
The group’s demands include granting Ogoni a state in the country, cleaning up of Ogoni environment, exoneration and immortalisation of the Ogoni Nine that were executed by the Sani Abacha military junta in the 1990s, and rehabilitation and payment of compensation to the Ogonis for the atrocities meted out to them by the Abacha government.
According to MOSOP-USA, “Our ultimate goal is for Ogoni to be granted a State to be self-governed within the Federal Republic of Nigeria, similar to other ethnic nationalities. This would ensure Ogoni has a say in national budgets, as our resources are being misused. It is a step towards Ogoni controlling their political affairs, having equal representation, and using a good proportion of their resources for their development. The right to protect their boundaries and environment against further degradation, forceful encroachment, domination, and annihilation.”
It also noted that cleanup Ogoni environment would provide five basic essentials
“Clean up the previous contaminants and ensure the environment is safe for oil production; gives its citizens the five essential government obligations to guarantee that Ogoni is part of Nigeria: good roads, clean water, electricity, equipped medical facilities, and security”, it said.
The group demanded for the exoneration and immortalisation of the Ogoni Nine.
“The exoneration and immortalization of the Ogoni Nine (9), which includes Gbenemene Suanu I of the Ogoni Nation, Kenule Beson Saro-Wiwa, Comr. John Barinaaziga Kpuinen, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Paul Levura, Baribor Bera, Daniel Gbokoo, Saturday Dobee, Felix Nuate and Nordu Eawo is not negotiable. We urge the government and people of Nigeria to straighten their records. These men remain innocent of the charges against them that led to their brutal death. MOSOP-USA demands that these men be exonerated. In honour of their memories, November 10 should be declared an Environmental or Civil rights national holiday in Nigeria.”, MOSOP-USA said.
The statement further demanded that compensation be paid to the Ogoni people “for all the atrocities meted against them by the Abacha administration.
“We call on the President to call back the citizens of the 16 communities that the Abacha administration sacked and flattened in both Oyigbo and Tai LGAs; rehabilitate and pay compensation to those who have been internally homeless and hopeless refugees. Also, pay compensation for the 4,000 Ogoni people who were massacred in cold blood by the Rivers State Internal Task Force created by Abacha while Major Paul Okuntimo executed the federal order to make Ogoni a wasteland. Those are what it takes for resumption in Ogoni.”
MOSOP-USA also called on Tinubu to stay true to democracy, recalling that before the President assumed office on May 29, last year, “he was protesting against bad governance and campaigning for true democracy as an activist with members of MOSOP-USA in the United States of America concerning the injustice and genocidal actions meted out against the people of Ogoni in Nigeria.
“MOSOP USA, therefore, demands that the President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, should act within the ambit of the law and stay true to the cause of democracy/activism that we knew him for to provide good governance and justice to the people of Ogoni and Nigeria at large.”
On the issue of political autonomy for Ogoni and other ethnic nationalities in the country, the group said that “granting politically autonomous states is the only solution to Nigeria’s multiple problems and the only thing that will keep it together as one nation. Nigeria operates on injustice; its leaders are so deep in greediness that they oppress and victimize the poor. Greed and corruption have made Nigeria ungovernable. The rule of law has no bearing on the people. Politicians are now above the law. Truth has been buried; eventually, every ethnicity is now raising their heads, crying for justice, seeking survival like the Ogoni people. This nation shall soon collapse, except its leaders listen to the voice of wisdom.”
The group also appealed to President Tinubu to give Ogoni a College of Applied Technology.
“Finally, Ogoni needs well-equipped Federal Colleges of Applied Technology (FCAT), where the children will acquire skills and trade to meet the employment demands of the 21st century. We therefore inform the president that this FCAT will solve the problem of Ogoni underemployment as they have the most unemployed youths in Nigeria.
“Having the youth acquire basic trades and skills will help them create jobs for themselves and others, gradually eliminating unemployment and boosting the nation’s economy. We advise Mr. President to consider rebuilding the nation by providing skills and trades to the youths.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted a new generation bank, six Fintechs and some microfinance banks in major financial scams by allowing fraudsters to launder huge sums of money.
Director of public Affairs of the Commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made this known at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.
According to him, the compromised institutions allegedly allowed cryptocurrency transactions worth N162 billion to pass through without proper due diligence within the 2024/2025 financial year.
He said that the financial institutions clearly compromised banking procedures and allowed the fraudsters to safely change their ill-gotten gains into digital assets and move them to safe destinations.
“A total sum of N18.1 billion was moved through the financial system without due diligence of customers by the banks.
“It is worrisome that investigations by the commission showed that cryptocurrency transactions to the tune of N162 billion passed through a new generation bank without any due diligence.
“Investigations showed that a single customer maintained 960 accounts in another new bank and all the accounts were used for fraudulent purposes.
“That is bad news but the good news is that following our intervention the commission has been able to recover N33.62 million, which has been returned to some of the victims.”
He explained that the scams were in two categories, adding that the first was a syndicate of fraudsters that employed an airline discount scheme to lure their victims.
He said that they advertised a discount system for the purchase of flight tickets of a particular foreign carrier.
“The payment module is designed in such a way that the victims’ payment is actually made into the account of the airline.
“After payment is made the passenger’s entire funds in his bank account are emptied.
“Investigations showed that more than 700 victims have been scammed so far, with a loss of N651 million,” he said.
According to him, investigations show that the scheme is being masterminded by a foreign national; the commission has so far recovered and released N33 million to victims of the fraud.
He said that another scheme involved a company named Fred and Farid Investment Limited, simply called FF investment, which lured Nigerians into a bogus investment arrangement.
“More than 200, 000 victims have been defrauded in this regard. A total sum of N18 billion was raked in through nine companies offering diverse investment packages.
“The companies are: Credio Banco Limited; Deliberty Rock Limited; Liam Chumeks Global Service; Ngwuoke Daniels Technology; and Icons Autos and Import Merchant.
“Others are : Newpace Technology Services Limited, Primepath Ways Ventures Limited, Kaka Synergy Network Limited and Sunlight Tech Hub Services Limited.”
He said that foreign nationals were behind the schemes, while there are three Nigerian accomplices who have been arrested and charged to court.
He said that the masterminds were on the run and efforts are being made to bring them to book.
“The Commission is calling on regulatory bodies to bring financial institutions to compulsory compliance with regulations in the areas of Know Your Customers (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and others.
“Deposit Money Banks, Fintechs, Micro Finance Banks found to be aiding and abetting fraudsters should be suspended and referred to the EFCC for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.
“Negligence and failure to monitor suspicious and structured transactions by banks should no longer be allowed,” he said.
While cautioning members of the public to be wary of these actors, he said that the EFCC would continue its works against money laundering by fraudulent actors.
Uwujaren urged financial institutions to firm up their operational dynamics and save the nation leakages and compromises bleeding the economy.
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