A coalition of Ogoni youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to stop delaying the implementation of demands arising from the Ogoni dialogue process, insisting that the creation of Bori State must form a central part of the implementation roadmap.
The Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) also warned against what it described as attempts by politicians, privileged individuals and vested interests to hijack the dialogue process for personal, political and economic benefits.
In a statement jointly signed by seventeen youth leaders including Chief Kpakol Aleema Kpakol, President, Ogoni National Youth Congress; Comrade Collins Lebeteh Kenneth, its spokesman; Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr, President General, Khana Youth Assembly; Chief Barineka Tornwe, President, Ogoni General Youth Assembly; Mene Barisi Kenneth Kaabee, President General, PA-Gokana Supreme Youth Council; Comrade Ken Nnaa, President, Yorla Oil Field Youth Association; and Nadum Ana-Ana, President, Ogoni Community-Based Youth Leaders Forum, COYOG expressed concern over what it described as political and elite capture of the dialogue process, warning that the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people must not be sacrificed for personal, political or economic interests.
It maintained that the dialogue was a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development, stressing that its outcome must reflect the aspirations of the Ogoni people rather than the interests of a few individuals.
COYOG said the sacrifices made by generations of Ogoni people in the struggle for justice and development must not be undermined by political manoeuvring, selective representation or undisclosed arrangements.
The coalition said, “The Ogoni dialogue process is a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development. It must not become the exclusive preserve of a few individuals seeking to negotiate away the collective aspiration of the Ogoni people.”
It called on the Federal Government to provide a clear and documented commitment to implementing the agreed demands through an interim Memorandum of Understanding.
According to the group, the proposed agreement should specify the responsibilities of relevant institutions, implementation timelines, funding arrangements, monitoring mechanisms and public reporting obligations.
The coalition also urged Tinubu to establish a representative Presidential Implementation Committee with a clearly defined mandate, measurable milestones and sufficient authority to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations.
It said the demands contained in the Ogoni Dialogue Committee’s report should not be reduced to political promises or ceremonial declarations of selective implementation.
COYOG specifically insisted that the demand for the creation of Bori State must receive explicit and documented attention in the implementation roadmap.
It argued that the demand was fundamental to the political inclusion, equitable representation, administrative accessibility and aspirations of the Ogoni people.
The coalition said the Federal Government and relevant constitutional institutions should identify the appropriate pathway for considering the creation of the proposed state in accordance with the constitutional procedures governing state creation in Nigeria.
It added that the Bori State demand must not be ignored, indefinitely postponed or used as a bargaining instrument by political interests.
“For COYOG, the demand for Bori State is a fundamental question of political inclusion, equitable representation, administrative accessibility and the aspirations of the Ogoni people.
“Any genuine effort to address the Ogoni question must engage this demand openly and seriously alongside the other provisions of the Ogoni Bill of Rights and the 20 demands contained in the Dialogue Committee’s report,” the statement said.
The coalition’s position comes amid concerns over the leadership structure of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC), following a statement reportedly credited to Rev. Fr. Pius Kii during the service of songs for late Mrs Rosemary Kobani at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
According to COYOG, Senator Olaka Wogu was reportedly recognised as the leader of the ODC during the event.
However, the youth groups disputed the description, insisting that Wogu was a member of the committee’s Harmonisation Subcommittee and not the chairman or leader of the Central Ogoni Dialogue Committee.
They identified Professor Don Baridam as the leader of the central committee, saying his leadership and mandate should be respected by all stakeholders.
The coalition explained that the Harmonisation Subcommittee was established to harmonise reports and recommendations from the Tactical and Technical Committees before presenting its work through the appropriate structure of the ODC.
It said membership of the subcommittee did not confer the authority to assume the leadership of the central committee or independently speak on its behalf.
“We respect Senator Olaka Wogu as a political leader and member of the dialogue structure. However, no individual, irrespective of political status or influence, should place himself above the established institutional framework of the ODC,” the statement added.
COYOG cautioned Wogu against public conduct or representations that could create confusion about the committee’s leadership.
It also urged religious leaders and other public figures to verify institutional positions before making pronouncements capable of misleading the Ogoni people.
The coalition further called on the ODC leadership, under Professor Baridam, to strengthen its public communication and provide regular, accurate and comprehensive updates on the progress of the dialogue.
It specifically asked the committee to communicate the outcome of its harmonisation exercise, explain the decisions reached, identify outstanding issues and publish a roadmap for implementation.
On the reported $300m fund, the youth groups said the Ogoni people deserved verifiable answers concerning the source, status and intended purpose of the money, as well as the arrangements for its management and accountability.
They argued that questions surrounding public-interest funds should not be suppressed, politicised or used as an excuse to frustrate the broader dialogue process.
“Transparency must be non-negotiable,” the coalition said, adding that accountability and the successful conclusion of the dialogue were not mutually exclusive.
The youth groups urged Ogoni political leaders, traditional rulers, community institutions, civil society organisations, women’s groups and other youth formations to remain united and vigilant in protecting the collective interests of the people.
They recalled that the Ogoni people had endured decades of environmental devastation, political marginalisation and unmet expectations, arguing that the credibility of the current dialogue would ultimately depend on the implementation of agreed commitments.
According to the coalition, the success of the process should not be measured by the number of meetings held, the personalities involved or public statements issued, but by concrete commitments fulfilled, environmental damage addressed, political demands advanced and improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Ogoni people.
COYOG reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, constructive engagement and democratic mobilisation, while pledging to continue holding relevant institutions accountable for their commitments.
“The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent, inclusive and measurable.
“No political interest, individual or elite group is greater than the collective future of Ogoni land,” the statement said.
