EZE was at the peak of his activism at this time. The then two labour centres; the Trade Union congress of Nigeria, TUCN, and the Nigeria National Federation of Labour, NNFL, set up a joint National Labour Committee, NLC, to prosecute the Iva Valley case.

A recent declaration of political autonomy by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP and the Bakassi people have been generating reactions. In a live broadcast on a newly-established radio station, Voice of Ogoni, MOSOP President and Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, on August 2, 2012 declared political autonomy from Nigeria thus: “By this declaration of political autonomy, we, the Ogoni people, are determined to enforce the United Nations (UN) Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without fear or retreat.”

“I want to assure all Nigerians that Nigeria cannot be disintegrated in any form and the present terror attacks across the country came as a thief in the night. My request for Nigerians is for us to continue in
prayers while we do our best to satisfy the needs of all citizens.”

Declaration of autonomy by aggrieved groups in Rivers and Cross River states of the federation while Bayelsa State intends having its own anthem, flag and coat of arms may be pointers to secession, suggestive of disgruntled citizenry lacking a sense of belonging with regard to the Nigerian federal arrangement.

AUGUSTINE Bamidele Dania, one of the affected workers explains why “Suddenly, they stopped beating us. We never knew what was happening.