NYCOP Urges Ogoni Youths To Remain Patient, Reiterates Demands For Bori State, 45% Oil Equity
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) has urged Ogoni youths to remain calm and united in their agitation for political inclusion, resource control and environmental justice, insisting that the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland must not come at the expense of the people's fundamental rights and development aspirations.
The council also reiterated its demands for the creation of Bori State, the emergence of an Ogoni person as governor of Rivers State and a 45 per cent equity stake in oil resources extracted from Ogoniland.
NYCOP President, Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel, made the position known in an address to Ogoni youths, in which he reflected on the history of the Ogoni struggle, the sacrifices of its leaders and the need for a united position on negotiations surrounding the proposed resumption of oil exploration in the area.
Emmanuel recalled that the Ogoni struggle, which gained international prominence through the activities of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), had endured decades of advocacy, hardship and sacrifice.
He cited the execution of the Ogoni Nine, including renowned environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, as a defining moment in the people's struggle for environmental protection, social justice and self-determination.
According to him, the sacrifices made by the Ogoni Nine and other activists must not be forgotten as discussions concerning the future of oil exploration in Ogoniland continue.
The NYCOP president expressed concern over what he described as decades of political exclusion and inadequate benefits for the Ogoni people despite the area's contribution to the economic development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
He argued that Ogoni communities should have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their land, natural resources, political representation and economic future.
Emmanuel further questioned the level of political inclusion available to the Ogoni people, maintaining that the community's aspirations for greater representation in Rivers State governance should receive serious consideration.
NYCOP Questions Oil Resumption Negotiations
The youth leader also criticised the process surrounding negotiations for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, alleging that key stakeholders, including MOSOP, youths and women, were excluded from the dialogue process.
He referenced concerns reportedly raised by KAGOTE, an Ogoni socio-cultural organisation, over the negotiations and the composition of the committee involved in the process.
According to him, decisions concerning oil resumption cannot be considered sufficiently inclusive if the people whose communities and livelihoods are directly affected are not adequately represented.
He maintained that meaningful dialogue must accommodate the concerns of traditional institutions, community leaders, women, youths, environmental advocates and other relevant stakeholders.
Emmanuel said NYCOP was not opposed to oil resumption in itself but insisted that any arrangement must address the longstanding concerns of the Ogoni people.
“We are not against oil resumption. We are against slavery in the name of resumption,” he declared.
He argued that the question of oil exploration should not be treated solely as an economic or commercial issue but should also address environmental remediation, community development, equitable resource benefits and the protection of the rights of the host communities.
Three Demands Declared Non-Negotiable
The NYCOP president outlined three major demands that he said must form the basis of any acceptable arrangement concerning the future of Ogoniland.
The first is the creation of Bori State, which the council considers a pathway towards greater political autonomy and representation for the Ogoni people.
The second is the emergence of an Ogoni person as governor of Rivers State, which Emmanuel described as necessary to address what he considers decades of political marginalisation.
The third is a 45 per cent equity stake in oil resources from Ogoniland, which the council says would give the people a more substantial economic interest in the natural resources extracted from their ancestral land.
Emmanuel maintained that these demands were not requests for special favours but, in the council's view, essential conditions for achieving meaningful political and economic inclusion.
The council consequently declared its opposition to oil resumption without satisfactory consideration of the demands, summarising its position with the declaration: “No Bori State, No Equity, No Governor — No Oil Resumption!”
The position underscores the growing importance of questions surrounding community participation, resource ownership, political representation and the distribution of benefits in discussions about oil exploration in Ogoniland.
Calls for Patience, Unity and Peaceful Advocacy
Despite the strong position adopted by the council, Emmanuel appealed to Ogoni youths to exercise patience and avoid actions that could undermine the broader objectives of their struggle.
He cautioned against allowing economic hardship and immediate personal interests to weaken the collective pursuit of justice, insisting that unity and sustained engagement remained important to achieving the community's aspirations.
He urged the youths to remain conscious of their history and to ensure that the sacrifices of previous generations continued to inform their decisions.
The NYCOP president also stressed the importance of peaceful advocacy, collective responsibility and constructive engagement in pursuing the council's demands.
His appeal comes amid continuing debates over the future of oil exploration in Ogoniland, where environmental concerns, the legacy of oil pollution, community interests and the question of equitable benefits remain central to discussions about the area's development.
The proposed resumption of oil activities has broader implications for the relationship between host communities, government institutions and oil industry stakeholders, particularly regarding the protection of livelihoods and the provision of lasting benefits to affected communities.
For NYCOP, the central issue is that any decision concerning Ogoniland must take account of the people whose land and environment are directly affected.
Emmanuel concluded his address by reaffirming the council's commitment to the Ogoni struggle and urging youths to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, political inclusion and economic rights.
“Aluta Continua!” he declared, reaffirming the council's position that the Ogoni people's quest for justice and development must continue through unity, determination and peaceful engagement.
