Stakeholders under the umbrella of the Ogoni Business Owners in America (OBOA) have urged the Federal Government to formally designate armed herdsmen as a terrorist organisation, citing rising violence across rural communities.
OBOA President and traditional ruler, Chief Anthony Waadah, raised the alarm in a statement titled “Ken Saro-Wiwa Lives On: The Unfinished Struggle for Justice, Dignity, and Accountability in Ogoniland.” He warned that armed herdsmen and bandits continue to destroy farmlands and take innocent lives across the country.
Waadah declared that the Ogoni people would no longer remain passive in the face of attacks.
“Ogoni people will lawfully defend themselves, their land, and their families with every legitimate means available. Self-defense is not rebellion; it is a universal human right,” he said.
The monarch also cautioned against any attempt to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland without first addressing long-standing environmental and developmental concerns. He insisted that proper clean-up, remediation, and justice must precede any move to restart operations.
“Do not be in a hurry to reopen oil operations in Ogoniland. Do not impose policies or decisions upon a people still bleeding from the wounds of environmental destruction and injustice,” he warned.
Waadah accused the authorities of failing to deliver meaningful cleanup despite the reported $1 billion spent so far under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). According to him, evidence on the ground shows no corresponding transformation.
“If you walk through Ogoniland today, it does not look like a place where such a humongous amount has been spent. The water remains polluted, the soil poisoned, the air toxic, and our people continue to die of preventable diseases,” he lamented.
He called on HYPREP to uphold the legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa by ensuring transparency and accountability, and demanded a full probe into the alleged disappearance of an additional $300 million from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Beyond environmental concerns, Waadah advocated educational and developmental reforms, urging the establishment of a Federal Government College in Ogoni to support the already existing Federal University of Education.
“The future of Ogoni cannot be built on oil pipelines alone; it must be built on knowledge, skills, and opportunity,” he stressed.
The OBOA president reiterated that the Ogoni people will not compromise on their heritage, identity, or the quest for justice.
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