The leader of Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), Rev. Dr. Douglas Fabekee, has said that the community will never allow Shell Petroleum Development Company to return to their land.
Fabekee said this in Bori, Rivers State during an event organised by the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI).
The event was organized following the judgement of the Court of Appeal that handed over the management of Oil Mining License (OML) 11 to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
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Fabekee thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for providing the peaceful environment for the event to hold
The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja had on Monday upturned the August 23, 2019 ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja which held that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was entitled to the renewal of the Lease on OML 11.
In the ruling, the Appellate Court held that the Minister of Petroleum Resources has the discretion whether or not to renew the OML 11 Lease in favor of SPDC.
The Court further held that the minister rightly exercised his discretion in awarding the OML 11 Lease to NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Fabekee, who stated that the people of Ogoni will never allow Shell into their territory, expressed happiness over the Court of Appeal judgement.
He said: “I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for providing us with a peaceful country and for us to gather here today.
“Under no circumstance will Shell return to Ogoni. Ogoni people are happy with the Appeal Court judgement that handed OML 11 to NNPC.
“We are here today for two occasions. First is to celebrate the Appeal Court judgement against Shell, which have taken the OML 11 license from Shell and given it to NPDC, a subsidiary of NNPC.
“Secondly, we are today demonstrating to the federal government of Nigeria that the Ogoni people will no longer work with Shell.
“Shell should not appeal that judgement because even if it is in their favour, we are not going to accept it. We are ready to work with NPDC, we are ready to work with the federal government.”
The NPDC Managing Director, Engr. Mohammed Ali Zara, in his response to the comments of the Ogoni leaders expressed his commitment to work with the leadership of Ogoni Liberation Initiative for the development of communities in Ogoni land in Rivers State.
The MD said the event is a clear testimony and demonstration of the strong and cordial relationship that has existed between the NPDC and the community over the years.
He said having listened to the great speeches and presentations made by stakeholders in the community, the government truly understands their concerns, yearnings and expectations.
While stating that the damage done to the environment and the economic loss suffered over the years cannot be over-emphasized, he said projects would be implemented to restore piece, tranquility and progress for the good people of this community and Nigeria at large.
Zara said: “On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to thank you immensely for the initiative. Indeed, this is a clear testimony and demonstration of a strong and cordial relationship that exist between us the years. This, for us is our social license to operate in this peace-loving community.
“No doubt, our confidence had been further boosted by this show of love and solidarity. We have listened to great statements made here today and in our last engagements and want to say that true, we understand your concerns, yearnings and expectations.
“Indeed, the damage done to the environment losses suffered over the years cannot be over-emphasized. We share in your pains, first and famous as Nigerians, and as your partner to restore peace, tranquility and progress for the good people of Ogoni community and Nigeria at large.
“As we have always maintained, it is in our collective national interest to urgently and speedily restore the needed normalcy that will create the enabling conditions for the accelerated socio-economic development that will give way for the remediation of the degraded and serially damaged environment to it’s natural state.”