The Movement For The Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, led by Prof Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and Reynolds Construction Company, the contractor handling the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State to return to site or face the total shutdown of the road.
MOSOP in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar said that the rate of accidents occasioned by loss of lives and properties on that axis of the East -West Road has become worrisome and it can no longer keep silent.
MOSOP said that despite the huge revenue accruing to the Federal Government from the axis, it continued to pay lip service with regard to the construction of the road.
MOSOP urged all Ogonis to prepare for the total shutdown of the road at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.
It said: “It is worrisome that despite the huge revenue accruing from within the Ogoni ethnic nationality especially the Onne Oil&Gas Free Trade Zone which houses hundreds of companies, the Eleme Petrochemical Company, Eleme Refinery and other Federal, State and private assets, the entire stretch of the road had remained in sorry state and a nightmare to travelers. The road is now a death trap to the Ogoni people”;.
MOSOP recalled that only recently, a fatal fire accident occured on that road which destroyed over 100 vehicles and claimed many lives which resulted from the bad nature of the road and several other deaths that can’t be accounted for which occurs daily on that road.
It said: “We are giving the Federal Government a 14-day grace period beginning from today, to fine tune whatever arrangements it has with RCC and return to site as Ogoni People are no longer interested in the politics going on with the company and the Federal Ministry of Works.
” All we need is speedy completion of that road or we shall shut it down completely and cripple economic activities in that entire zone. On the 3rd of September 2024.
“We call on all Ogonis to get ready and prepare for massive protest on the 3rd of September 2024 at the Eleme section of the East -West Road at the expiration of this ultimatum.
” The Federal Government has taken Ogoni for granted for too long and we can’t b that any longer. The time to save our land is now and we must act.”
