By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT — OGONIS have reiterated their collective stand against the return of Shell Petroleum Company to their area. President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Ledum Mittee, said the oil giant should not contemplate the idea of resuming oil exploration in the area.

It will be recalled that Ogoni fought Shell out of the area in 1993. The MOSOP president said he was not going to seek re- election at the end of his tenure, this year, just as he called on his people to participate in the voters’ registration which commences this year. Mittee has been president of the body since 2000.

“I want to publicly announce to you all that this is my last address as President of MOSOP, as I will no longer be offering myself for re-election during the MOSOP’s elections due by the third quarter of this year. In the course of my leadership, I have enjoyed tremendous support from all of you for which I am eternally grateful.

He charged Ogonis to continue to remain non-violent in their struggle. “Our enduring commitment to a struggle based on non-violence has made us the recurrent reference point in any modern discourse about non-violent grass-roots mobilisation,” he added.

“Whilst many, probably otherwise more powerful groups have failed, even with force of arms, we have become one of the few that has been able to send Shell out of our land.

“As we brace ourselves for the critical battle of the challenges of a post_Shell Ogoni, our message is that the Ogoni people are not prepared to replace Shell with hell, as we shall not accept any standards lower or like those we experienced with Shell, and the onus is on any would_be operator to demonstrably prove that they can deliver those best practices.”

He also lamented the recent destruction in K Dere and B Dere communities in a crisis involving the two areas, urging them to promote the value of peace.

On his part, governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said he would electricify  all communities in the state before leaves office. The governor also said the Sakpenwa Ogoni road would be rehabilitated and named after the late environmental rights activities Ken Sarowiwa.

Amaechi also assured that more health centres and schools would be built in Ogoni area.