THE "OGONI MOMENTUM" SHALL CONQUER POVERTY: PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR HAS ANSWERS THAT LAST

 

THE "OGONI MOMENTUM" SHALL CONQUER POVERTY: PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR HAS ANSWERS THAT LAST

INTRODUCTION

The "Ogoni momentum" is steaming up fastly. As we sustain it, the era of massive poverty shall fizzle out sooner than later. This, I believe. Many others have joined me to believe in this possibility. There may still be certain minute doubters, naysayers and detractors singing in discordant tunes. The season of doubt shall be brief. Albeit, it's a great gift and a marvellous blessing for someone or a people to be outrightly under-estimated. No qualms! What matters most is one's or a people's coded capacity to be a silent architect or silent architects of outcomes.

Ogoni is a land of awesome promises and possibilities. But, like any other historic struggle, under-estimation by the few doubters, naysayers and detractors has often been a major bane of the Ogoni survival saga. Suffice that the latent potential of the Ogoni people is currently far from being adequately translated into an admirable potency. However, Ogoni is a land of lavish beauty and rosy fragrance. It's a place of sunshine. It's a territory of lush water bodies and a table land defined by ultra-precious green vegetation. The fora and fauna that adorn the land clearly depict that any argument by the tiny number of doubters, naysayers and detractors that Ogoniland cannot scale beyond the outer limits in the realms of progress and prosperity flies in the face of reason.

The sumptuous green vegetation is clear evidence that the earlier and latter rain often bring renewals in due times and seasons. This development evinces that Ogoni is highly blessed with the most profitable specie of the first factor of production - land. Its human resources potential is enviable and globally-competitive as it flaunts awesome capacities in virtually all fields of human endeavor that drive modern global economy. Above all, Ogoniland flaunts a monumental proportion of oil and gas. 

If all things were equal, Ogoniland would have long ago become a remarkable global destination. Sometimes, in life, all things are not always equal. Hence, Ogoniland has been struggling under the weight of abject poverty despite that the brand of crude oil found in the belly of the earth within the Ogoni territory is the most sought-after brand of crude oil often called "bonny light" or the "sweet oil." This brand of crude oil is obtainable from the Ogoni-Bonny-Port Harcourt zone of the Nigerian Hydrocarbon deposit. This brand has just a tiny amount of sulphur; therefore, it takes less resources and efforts (quite cheap and easy) to refine it and virtually very minute or no by-product from it is a waste. 

This trend makes the brand of crude found in Ogoniland a hot cake in the more affluent North-West. Most interestingly, the gas economy has already dawned on us. Ogoniland has massive gas deposit; with over Three (3) times the volume of crude oil in gas. As the ancient adage goes, "only the ant knows the exact position where its ribs are located within its body system." There are critical moments in life when silence is no longer golden. This is one of such moments. Absolutely, silence  is not an evidence of peace. After all, silence about the things that matter most is a clear pointer to the fact that death is imminent. 

It's pertinent to reiterate that Ogoniland has been more or less a metaphor for genuine struggle against decades of diabolic economic rascality perpetuated by an acclaimed oil and gas giant - Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). I'm not over-flogging an obvious fact to reiterate here that within Thirty-five (35) solid years - from 1958 to 1993 - SPDC carted away Billions of petro-dollars from Ogoniland and left behind devastation, deprivation, destitution, pangs, pains and poverty. And the outcome? The Ogoni people took the bull by the horns and courageously sacked SPDC from the highly endowed land on Fourth (4th) January, 1993.

A LONG TIME COMING 

It's been a long time coming. Succinctly, the Ogoni people have mastered the courage to deliberately resist the temptation of opting to poison their collective tomorrow with the soured thoughts of the agony of yesterday. In our daily experience as humans, every dawn often reminds us that darkness never lasts forever - light would always break through and spring forth. Every new dawn inevitably comes with fresh dews. The Tinubu-led administration has waved a green flag to the Ogoni people that the moment of new dawn with its fresh dews has come. The signal has become quite obvious that tomorrow shall be greater than today.

This is our moment to rise above human limitations. Wisdom is fundamental in all. The lessons of the history of human existence reveal that even in diverse times of grievous famine, the wise and diligent would often enjoy sumptuous food and water. While the little minds would be complaining and even be dying of hunger, the wise and diligent would enjoy supernatural provisions throughout the famine. When you give your qualty time to positive thoughts, you will receive divine instructions that will keep you from panting and experiencing awful confusion like others in times of temporary hardships. 

The temporary hardship facing Nigeria today is more or less pains of childbirth. The pains may be acute, but it's for a passing moment. The time has come for Ogoni people to begin to see beyond everyday possibilities and devise the means to live above natural limitations. Great possibilities come in handy when the human society stretches itself beyond the outer limits. Ignorance is one of the worst limitations any human being can face. A lot of times, people do not recognize the resources that can save and deliver them, even when they are under their noses. 

This menace of ignorance often puts a lot of people under very terrible and intimidating limitations. It's right to liken ignorance to darkness and blindness. This is an awful experience. When people who can see are in darkness, there is still hope that when light comes, they will see the things that surround them. However, when people who are blind are in darkness, that is another level of darkness altogether. 

Ignorance limits people and keeps them from seeing what has been readily made available to them. When the eyes of our understanding are open, we inevitably rise above the limitations that keep others down. There lurk all the solutions to the daily cravings of the human heart. Of course, there are ready solutions to all human challenges, but we must strive to remove every veil of ignorance that often limits us from enjoying the fullness that's merely at arm's length away from us. 

It's imperative for the eyes of our understanding to become open for us to see the abundant resources that's available to us as a people. Truly, it's been a long time coming, but the moment of solace is just one click away. Sometimes, it becomes imperative for people to pause and have a reflection of the past in order to properly understand the present, and be able to navigate the pathway to the future with adequate comprehension of the vicissitudes that the future comes with.

Down the memory lane, it's visible that Ogoniland was the over-burdened cash cow that perpetually deepened the treasury of Nigeria while the Ogoni people's sources of livelihood were primarily subsistence farming and fishing. The people were constrained to endure the devastating environmental consequences of decades of institutionalized siphoning of oil wealth. In spite of the 1995 judicial execution of Kenule Saro-Wiwa and Eight (8) other prominent and foremost human rights advocates and adherents of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Ogoni people have continually been a global reference point and measuring yardstick in the struggle for justice, equity and recognition among indigenous people around the globe. 

On 4th January, 1993, the Ogoni people famously declared SPDC persona non grata in the Ogoni territory. The successful stoppage of the flow of oil from Ogoniland triggered the sacking of several Ogoni communities and claimed over Two Thousand (2000) lives of innocent Ogoni citizens. The then military regime led by late General Sani Abacha unleashed unprecedented mayhem in response to the loathed disruptions in oil revenue. 

The unfolding scenario was a study in state-crafted war of attrition against Ogoni people who deserved to be protected by the federal government within the time frame under reference. The Ogoni people exhibited superlative gallantry and sustained the status quo for over Thirty-two (32) years. This has been a protracted period of economic stalemate. However, not quite long ago, precisely 15th May, 2024, some concerned leaders under the auspice of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni took the initiative and paid a save-our-souls (SOS) visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. 

This visit was significant in more ways than one. Firstly, it made Mr. President believe that the acclaimed civilized and non-violent approach chosen by the Ogoni people in their struggle is real. Secondly, the Ogoni people's option to initiate the discussions with the federal government of Nigeria is a pointer to the people's preparedness to open up to the process of "healing all old wounds," as Mr. President would put it in his conscientious response to a well-crafted address presented by the Ogoni leaders. The foregoing development which gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR untold joy eventually opened the stage for the call of a more elaborate meeting of Ogoni leaders with Mr. President held in February, 2025.

There and then, a marching order was given to the Ogoni leaders there-present to go back home and commence a process of very elaborate community engagements and consultations. These engagements and consultations were tailored towards generating a myriad of confidence-building measures which were diligently collated into a historical report which was formally submitted to the federal government on Wednesday 24th September, 2025. All the foregoing unfolding events are preparatory for the potential resumption of oil and gas operations. 

However, this time, the ensuing dialogue is rooted in a spirit of partnership, with a clear and deliberate focus on advancing the development and well-being of the Ogoni people. Though, the Ogoni people are still battling with pains of the murder of Thirteen (13) prominent and illustrious Ogoni sons and the loss of lives of over Two Thousands (2000) unsung martyrs of the Ogoni struggle. Obviously, the crisis that claimed all these lives are largely believed by international agencies to have been orchestrated by the then military government in concert with oil-extracting multinational corporations from 1994 to 1995. Ordinarily, it would call for extra-ordinary efforts to spur on the larger chunk of the ordinary community people of Ogoni to develop the appetite for oil and gas production activities on their land. 

It's pertinent to recall that over the past Thirty-two (32) years, successive administrations of the federal government have made unsuccessful attempts to resume oil and gas operations in the region. At certain points in time the Ogoni people have been approached with incentives of diverse shapes and colors. At other points in time the past administrations have employed the strategies that smack of divide-and-conquer tactics, offering meager rewards to elites and arming youths to sow dissent and bend the will of the people. All such tactics have proved ineffective and devoid of positive outcome. 

Thanks goodness for the youths who have upheld their gallant resilience. In fact, in most instances, the youths have been threatened with severe consequences, but they remained unruffled. The recommendation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the clean-up of Ogoniland was a good first step which eventually led to the creation of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). This project, primarily focused on remediating the Ogoni environment and proffering alternative livelihood for the community people, is ongoing with an Ogoni son at the helm of the project. 

It's been a long time coming, but it's quite obvious that none of the previous efforts had worked until now. For the first time, the Ogoni people appear convinced of a sincere, ongoing negotiation with the Tinubu-led administration. So far, the Thirteen (13) foremost martyrs of the Ogoni struggle have been honored in very significant ways and the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) is established in Ogoniland. 

The foregoing development amongst others have ignited confidence and endeared the Ogoni people to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. However, watchful eyes are still wide open, keenly monitoring the execution mechanisms being put in place to ensure the imminent negotiation process hits the mark of flawlessness. It's been a long time coming, little or no wonder it has become increasingly imperative for the process to revolve on the orbit of "Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project" which is diligently tailored to ensure that the boundless energies of the Ogoni people are not allowed to lay waste.

"OGONI MOMENTUM" SHALL CONQUER POVERTY 

Ab initio, the current and still unfolding segment of the "Ogoni momentum" was built under the image of passion, resilience, control and wealth creation. As the rolling stream advances, it's increasingly becoming clearer that the aura of the Ogoni survival saga has to radiate the aroma of grace, patriotism, love and vision. The inclination to unrestrained exhibition of unpatriotic traits unfolding in the toga of awful neutrality is not a strength of character. The quest for comfort would often prompt this inclination. This is a true quality of weaklings.

I enjoin our kits and kin to abstain from treading the pathway of the weakling. There are moments when comfort no longer soothes; it inevitably holds back. At such sensitive moments, as the one in which we find ourselves, Ogoni people must muster the courage to deliberately choose to reject comfort and put our broken pieces together and collectively confront the prevailing tasks and challenges heads-on. The journey ahead may be murky, the sight in view may turn blur at some points and streams of discouragement may threaten to overflow us, but we must march forward. We must let hope, love and grace sustain our faith, focus and vision.

Prior to the advent of the current and unfolding phase of the "Ogoni momentum," the Ogoni people's experience has lent strength to the popular argument that the Nigeria's oil-bearing communities have gained the least, and lost the most, from the discovery of petroleum resources and extraction of same from their territories. This unfortunate trend has been mostly laid at the door of the lapses and ineffectiveness of the regulatory mechanism of Nigeria's petroleum industry. Furthermore, this has inevitably occasioned an inverse relationship between the endowment with petroleum resources and presence of desirable impacts on the oil-bearing communities.

The foregoing scenario is quite akin to the Ogoni experience which is an incontestiable facet of a very detrimental socio-economic phenomenon called "resource curse." It goes without saying that this obnoxious experience has inevitably placed Ogoniland at cross-roads. Hence the option to replace this mockery of economic solutions with a more meaningful and result-oriented model that will spell enormous relief to all stakeholders. It has to be a "win-win" situation for the government, Ogoni people and the industry players.

The era of despair and despondency is as good as over. Albeit, to sit down rescind to fate is sheer insanity. The valley may be deep; the climb may be steep, but with an unparalleled and unqualified unity of purpose, a collective and impregnable resolve, and candid and consistent efforts, celebration awaits us, as a people, at the other side of the shore.

The route to globally-competive worthiness is not a sedentary pursuit. Poverty can never be conquered by the luck of the draw. Victory over poverty is mostly achieved through sweat and blood. But the place of diligence in making choices are absolutely fundamental. Our little individual contributions can be very significant. This "Ogoni momentum" must not count any sacrifice too big to be laid on the altar, going forward. That's the manner and pattern of thoughts that will make things work for our people and get them out of the awful nightmare of economic stalemate into the cozy arena of enviable affluence.

We cannot afford to sit on the fence while the monster of poverty continues to sprawl like a hungry python across the nooks and crannies of our highly endowed land. And never again shall we allow the menace of ignorance to devour all that was once bright and beautiful in our hitherto well watered garden. In all these, genuine, benevolent and selfless leadership is very key. There has to emerge a refined crop of leaders who are prepared to relegate personal interest to the background and bring forth collective interest to the foreground.

Poverty can only be conquered when the leaders opt to be candid foot soldiers of the people's collective vision and exhibit the desirable commitment to the indispensable task of restoring hope to the ordinary community people. It takes unwavering will power to pluck the hitherto hapless Ogoni people from the alien web of wastefulness. The very dynamic world is waiting for no one. Before us lies a generational opportunity to sprint forward and become a remarkable global template for all those who want to rewrite their history and conquer poverty.

Two choices lie before us: either to remain in an unending rigmarole while the world leaves us behind or to dust up ourselves and embrace the opportunity of being found at the totem pole of global history when tales of those who rose from dust to diadem will be exhumed by posterity. The choice is ours to make. Leadership truly matters and the lessons of modern civilization has proven that choices of leadership premised upon nepotism is as dangerous as deliberately raising a crop of organized mob and place royal apparels on them. 

And at this most sensitive stage of the protracted struggle, the Ogoni people cannot afford to pamper practices that will make a mockery of their collective responsibility to make a spectacular difference. No effort should be spared in the quest to protect the sacred stream of the growing confidence from pollution. Poverty can only be conquered if the endemic cancers of self-ego, shadiness and suspicion are eradicated from the polity. Of course, shadiness breeds suspicion, and the virtue of courage is needed to reject any strange practice that offers the people no solid promise of respite, recovery and restoration.

As rightly noted by one of our very intelligent fellow Ogoni patriots, Mr. Solomon Lenu, while making inroads towards the actualization of our ultimate vision, we must acknowledge that Four (4) sets of people make up the Ogoni citizenry at the moment as follows: Firstly, those who believe and perpetuate the notion that the "Ogoni oil is blood oil," and should be left untapped. Secondly, those who want the status quo to remain in order to continue using the oil and gas as products for fraud. Thirdly, those who want to use the oil and gas to meander their ways into recognition in order to acquire quick gains. Fourthly and finally, those who are sincerely driven by the vision to extinct poverty from the land and therefore crave for the best approach that will earn all stakeholders much good. 

The position of the fourth group must be upheld and strengthened to enable this "Ogoni momentum" conquer poverty. This makes leadership driven by self-denial increasingly necessary. The Ogoni people are desirous of answers they can feel, see and touch. The likes of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, FNES - the President of MOSOP - is one of such best brand of leaders who can bend over their backs to get Ogoniland from perpetual rigmarole and make the land regain its dignity as a land that has never been conquered at any point in time in human history. This indomitable spirit is needed to give the wings of action to our people's fully blown desire and heart-cry. This firm resolve to regig the "Ogoni momentum" will ignite the victory over poverty.

"OGONI MOMENTUM" AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

The prevailing understanding that defines the Ogoni movement for economic freedom is tied around a benign understanding that Ogoni people are unique species that flaunt handsome promises for the advancement of Nigeria's national greatness. This understanding has perpetually informed the craving that the federal government of Nigeria should be committed to making Ogoniland derive maximum benefits from the oil and gas wealth extracted from the Ogoni territory. This has triggered the persistent call that the federal government should commit itself to investing adequate resources into the human capacity growth of Ogoni people and infrastructural development of Ogoniland.

However, prevailing realities at certain quarters of the federal government depicts that despair, despondency and destitution are still hanging over the heads of the youthful stock of the Ogoni extraction with tiny ropes. Recently, one sad experience that befell some young Ogoni people left us with goose skins. A considerable number of Ogoni youths applied for scholarship under the scholarship scheme of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This happens to be a post-graduate scholarship scheme.

Sadly, all the applicants from Ogoniland were unjustly denied the opportunity to benefit from the scholarship scheme. The ground for their denial, as postulated by those in charge, is that Ogoniland is not an oil-producing area. This is the greatest irony of situation that can be found anywhere. This trend leaves one very pertinent question begging for an answer from the proponents and perpetrators of such a colossal misperception. The question is "how about the over Three (3) decades when the federal government fed fat on the enviable petro-dollars which flowed ceaselessly from the belly of the earth within the Ogoni territory?"

If the foregoing anomaly isn't a very disgusting experience, I wonder what it is. It becomes most unexpected and unfortunate to get a wind of this sad twist of fate at the time the Tinubu-led administration has aptly demonstrated a rare commitment to making the Ogoni people believe that "the time of the singing of the birds" is just around the corner in Ogoniland. It's quite pertinent and most reassuring to realize that the "truth would always stand tall" after being tested in the timeless laboratories of trial and adversity.

The detractors may be threatened by the awesome promises wielded by the Ogoni people. The people are fully endowed with certain natural qualities which inevitably prompt envy from certain misguided neighbours. This onslaught doesn't start today. Of course, it's been a long time coming, but we can continue to squat our shoulders with great sense of fulfillment that Ogoni people are rightly blessed with certain glittering qualities which are quite indispensable for any meaningful national growth and development. One of the most enviable of these qualities is the enviable abhorrence for violence in the demand for what is due them as "the goose that lays the golden egg."

Absolutely, the Ogoni people can't afford to shy away from their civilized knack for non-violence in their demand for their inalienable rights. Ab initio, the non-violent approach rightly adopted by the Ogoni people in their movement to wiggle their way out of the manacle of protracted domestic colonialism made Ogoni a distinct group from any other sets of people that resort to violence, vandalism, blood spills, gangsterism and treasonable felony under the cloak of struggle for rights. The foregoing are very barbaric strategies of getting the attention of the government at whatever level.

However, at the prima facie level, the non-violent struggle - the civilized method - which places the future into serious perspective, may ordinarily appear not to promptly attract the attention of the powers-that-be. This has been the bitter pill forced down the throats of the hitherto hapless Ogoni people. Albeit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has emerged at the nick of time to bring hope to the once hopeless Ogoni people and courage to the once almost dispirited Ogoni people. There's no iota of doubt that the rosy morning of joy is just at arm's length away.

Of course, that's life and our own world. Life's slates are replete with them; human improvement records brim with them: men and women who had dreams even when the prevaling circumstances of their dreams make the dreams look most absurd and ridiculous. However, their persistent resolve to conquer and their ultimate conquest of life's alien and unfriendly terrains which once starred them on the face often lend hope to the hopeless and courage to the dispirited. Truly, the Ogoni people have seen their future. And this future will be definitely defined by drastically reduced penchant for total dependence on government handouts. 

There's always a tomorrow: a tomorrow to turn yesterday's scowl of misfortune into today's smile of fortune. The future of the Ogoni people must remain the cardinal focus and central essence of the struggle. This is our moment. This is our time. The time has come to "arise and save Ogoniland" from destitution, despondency and decay. This is the rational behind our clarion call for all Ogoni people around the globe to sink their differences, bury their hatchet and collectively use the power of their minds to spin the web of our collective destiny. 

There's an urgent need to sustain the enviable muscle of the unfolding "Ogoni momentum" as the aging process continues to dump a new layer of sand at the shores of the Ogoni survival saga. And as the federal government's orchestra begins to play a more reassuring tune, the dancing steps of the once hapless Ogoni people have to promptly change in as much as "fire begets fire" and "one good turn deserves another." This is an incontestiable principle of life. The past was defined by the federal government's penchant for pampering the wrong doers while the heart-cry of the victims were left unattended. Today, the wind of change is sweeping across the land. There's hope in the air.

The pathway to the anticipated future of the Ogoni people must now be defined by unwavering diligence, impregnable knowledge and unparalleled selflessness. I believe the time of the ultimate interment of the dark age defined by recklessness of the economic invaders and the hopelessness of the local community people is now. In its stead has now emerged a New Dawn of unfolding promises. In this new dawn, the massive oil and gas wealth struck within Ogoniland must spell humongous affluence amongst the local community people. The Ogoni people have paid the price; now they deserve the prize. This "Ogoni momentum" comes with an audacious hope and a sustainable future.

A MOMENT OF TRUTH: LET NEGOTIATION BE DRIVEN BY INTER-GENERATIONAL VISION

The paradox of living in lack and loss in the midst of plenty doesn't have a divine fingerprint. As the ancient adage goes, "destiny is not a chance; it is a choice." The Ogoni people must be deliberate in their choice to tread the pathway of honor, respect and glory. The choices of today inform the quality of society posterity will inherit. Any choice that promises today's comfort and bequeaths a society defined by shame, shock and stoppage to posterity is not worth its salt.

In one of his greatest essays, the great European philosopher of blessed memory, Edmund Burke, asserted that "wise men who sit down with folded arms in the face of sweeping malfeasance in the human society suffers the fate of foots." This means the obnoxious "sit-down-look" attitude stiffles sanity and blows no one any good. Hence we can no longer sit on the fence. We've been wounded badly. Time has come to pant after the flowing stream of national healing "as the hart pants after the water brooks" in a season of drought.

The universe is vast and wide: a place where galaxies collide, stars twinkle and planets spin. No doubt, the universe is more or less a cosmic dance that never ends. But not all things are worth chasing after. Certain things in this world are like comets, fading with grace. Like a black hole that consumes all lights, some life pursuits would often lead to eternal night, particularly when it's chased with no defined sense of purpose.

On the contrary, just as supernovas explode with might, so certain goals in life are worth the fight despite the rigors involved. In the universe of our everyday life, there are choices that would cut deep like a sharp knife. It's pertinent to reiterate that not everything is worth the chase; some are better left in the outer space. There are battles in life we must evade and let time decide. There are some journeys that have to be abandoned for another day while the sun shines.

But East or West, the call to rescue Ogoniland comes with a force that demands a prompt positive response. Of course, all struggles, like the Ogoni struggle, naturally unfold in Four (4) stages as follows: (i) The rally or agitation stage; (ii) The persecution stage; (iii) The dialogue or negotiation stage; and (iv) The actualization or manifestation stage.

At the rally stage, Ogoni people took the world aback with spectacular gallantry as they alerted the entire global community of their plight, pangs and pains with such a rising crescendo that perplexed the oppressors. The Ogoni people excelled at that stage. At the persecution stage, fire and brimstone was rained upon the Ogoni people by the defunct Abacha-led military junta. Ogoni stood tall in the face of untold sacrifices. Now, at this dialogue stage, being the most sensitive stage, the power of knowledge must be brought to bear. This cannot become a merry-go-round affair as the quality of delivery would aptly determine the quality of outcomes that would be flaunted at the last stage - the actualization stage.

Now, here comes the correct information on the sizes (in Square Kilometres) of the respective LGAs that make up Ogoniland:

(i) Khana = 575 Square Kilometres (Sq Km);

(ii) Gokana = 126 Square Kilometres (Sq Km);

(iii) Tai = 159 Square Kilometres (Sq Km);

(iv) Eleme = 140 Square Kilometres (Sq Km); and

(v) Oyigbo = 248 Square Kilometres (Sq Km).

Against the foregoing background, the current efforts hulled at ensuring that OML 11 is unbundled makes it compelling to cite the applicable section of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, being the controlling regulatory instrument of Nigeria's petroleum industry. The applicable section of this regulatory instrument is Section 77; Sub-section 3(a). In blank terms, here comes the citation: 77 (3) "The area provided for in a petroleum prospecting licence shall not

exceed —

(a) 350 square kilometres for any onshore or shallow water acreages;

(b) 1,000 square kilometres for any deep offshore acreages; and

(c) 1, 500 square kilometres for any frontier acreages."

It's imperative to share certain ground-breaking realities which happen to be inevitable fruits of research. The findings confirm as follows: the current OML 11 covers an expansive land mass of 3,095.55 square kilometers— a size so vast that it could reasonably be unbundled into 9 or even 10 viable Oil Blocks in accordance with Section 77; Sub-section 3(a) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 which pegs the maximum size of an Oil Block covering land assets and shallow water acreages at 350 Square Kilometres (Sq Km). Meanwhile, the potential production capacity of the Ogoni oilfields is upto Eighty percent (80%) of the current OML11 Oil Block. 

Of course, unbundling of the current OML11 is the inescapable take-off point in any conversation regarding the resumption of oil and gas production in Ogoniland. The Ogoni people can't afford to settle for less; emphatically, as the people have paid the price, the time has come for them to win the prize.

Meanwhile, the Ogoni hydrocarbon deposits basically include land assets and shallow water acreages making Section 77; Sub-section 3(a) applicable to the Ogoni oilfields. Now, here is the compelling part: after unbundling the OML11 into say between 8 to 9 or 10 Oil Blocks, if each block is sold - joint venture agreement (JVA) - the statutory signature bonus for each Oil Block would be in the neighborhood of $2 billion. Under this scenario, Nigeria stands a handsome chance of effortlessly earning a staggering sum of $18–$20 billion in direct revenue even before the would-be operator would mobilize to the field(s) for operations. This is not just a number, it represents a monumental opportunity for the mutual benefits between the federal government and the Ogoni people.

With the foregoing data, Ogoni people are armed with a powerful bargaining position. The economic case is undeniable, the logic is irrefutable and to this effect, the justice for our people is clear and imminent. Ogoní economic freedom is no longer a dream; it is right within the people's grasp. All hands must now be on deck in order to successfully overcome the hitherto prevailing darkness of hide-and-seek game perpetuated by SPDC with the light of truth premised upon active, productive, rewarding and sustainable participation on the part of Ogoni people across the value chain of the industry.

Going forward, three cardinal issues beg for prompt attention if, and only if, the Ogoni people will derive maximum benefits from the proceeds of oil and gas extracted from their territory. These issues are more less fundamental to the ultimate actualization of the anticipated brighter future of the Ogoni people. 

First and foremost, the OML11 Oil Block has to be unbundled, separating the Ogoni Oilfields from the rest of the existing OML11 and breaking down Ogoniland into Four (4) separate Oil Blocks by whatever name called. Secondly, there has to be the requisite political will to get the job done vis-à-vis the ultimate granting to the Ogoni people the "Right of First Refusal" in course of the issuance of Oil Mining Lease while also leaving Ogoni people with the enviable right to active, productive, rewarding and sustainable participation in the operation of the would-be Ogoni Oil Blocks. Thirdly, the Ogoni people should not be denied their right of prior, free, fair and informed consent as touching on the negotiation processes preceeding the decision to issue the Oil Mining Lease to any company; this comes with aptly declaring any company hitherto laying claim to having secured such Oil Mining Lease on the Ogoni Oilfields persona non grata in Ogoniland.

Absolutely, Ogoniland will certainly lose any debate if they plead lack of professional superbrands as the reason for their failure to drive home the best to the eagerly waiting community people after all the humongous sacrifices hitherto laid on the altar of the struggle. There's virtually no paucity of human resources in Ogoniland. Ogoni professionals are largely globally-competitive. Life only gives to one or a people what one or a people demands or demand. On the negotiation table, Ogoni people can't afford to ask for a menial's hire. The negotiation must be driven by inter-generational vision.

DRILLING DEEPER FOR ANSWERS THAT LAST

Industrial concerns have an interesting practice from which the entire humanity can tap a vital lesson. I witnessed this practice from my personal experience when I found myself in the United States of America (USA) at the behest of the stampede that trailed the climax of the persecution stage of the Ogoni struggle. The practice got me jolted back to a new consciousness about the depth of the riches of human wisdom. Here comes a sharp recap of the practice:

Let all the lines in the manufacturing plant be up and running without any hiccup. All you witness are the everyday practicing engineers adorned in their coverall. They will just be moving to observe the smooth running of the machines to ensure that the target for the day or night is met. This crop of engineers often appears to have less pressure on their neck and are more or less jolly good fellows who would sometimes converse with the factory workers who are running the lines. This is far from being hear-say. I saw it. I found it quite interesting.

The most interesting part of this experience hits the scene whenever there's outright breakdown of the manufacturing machines. Let there be interruption of the running lines because of arrant breakdown of the manufacturing machines and you witness a sudden emergence of super experts who were hitherto dressed in mofty. They would pop up like bolts from the blue. They would promptly confront the mechanical faults, rectify the situation and get the manufacturing machines back on track. The take home lesson here is that special people are often reserved for critical moments.

This properly connects with the Nigerian experience where for decades we witnessed successive administrations headed by everyday politicians. Eventually, we found ourselves in the era where the nation had to be in the deep pit. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR eventually braved all external political brickwalls and faced down the menace of internal conspiracy and decisively won election and became the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

No sooner than he assumed office that he began to tread pathways his predecessors dreaded. The case of the protracted Ogoni quagmire is one serious case in point. The civilized approach so far adopted by Mr. President in cracking the nut of the riddle and puzzle of Ogoniland inevitably places an Eagle's feather on his hat. The entire world is keenly watching the unfolding phases of the dialogue between Ogoni people and the federal government of Nigeria. The silver linings are clearly visible.

Biblical records is also replete with diverse moments when God's chosen nation, Israel, would be in tune with God's commandments. Whenever all is well between Israel and the Almighty God who brought them from the land of bondage, God would send them everyday teachers, judges and minor prophets, at best. But let Israel begin to deviate, forget the Almighty God and worship idols; God would send them major prophets: the likes of Isaiah and Jeremiah to spark the flame of revival and get Israel reconnected with the God who delivered them from slavery in Egypt.

When we align the foregoing scenario to the Nigerian political leadership situation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR readily comes along as a generational leadership champion of the towering status of one of the foregoing major prophets. Getting Nigeria back on track isn't an impossible task. Transformative reforms architected by Mr. President are unfolding by the days, and proffering answers that last to the Ogoni quagmire is a major project on his table as the world watches in admiration. Possibly, this rare capacity to proffer answers that last to the protracted Ogoni debacle can attract the Nobel Peace Prize when the dust settles.

Truth be told, this is not a flattery. This towering tale of the distinction flaunted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR doesn't come by the luck of the draw. His rare focus on hardwork and unwavering vision have spelt the toll of distinction which has so far defined his life slate. Emphatically, the world is keenly watching with admiration the transformative reforms architected by Mr. President. Divine fingerprint has ultimately endowed him with glittering flame of passion for all-round solutions to the challenges of Nigeria. 

Hence, he's head and shoulders above his predecessors and has raised the bar so high for his would-be successors down the line. After examining the antecedent of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR it becomes self-evident that what we've so far witnessed is more or less a tip of the iceberg. The current phase of the journey of Mr. President as a stateman and a nation-builder par excellence will certainly flaunt him as a goldfish that the deep murky ocean of the human society cannot hide. 

And good health, spotless traits, goodwill and spectacular distinction shall never cease to become his defining attributes. He's a crass embodiment of extra-ordinary and steadfast commitment to nation-building. Mr. President wields the capacity to proffer answers that last. The olive branch he waves tirelessly is an emissary of respite, recovery and restoration for the Ogoni people. 

This is a generational opportunity that can never be taken for granted. Sometimes, the worst undoings of the Ogoni people would be obstacles generated in-house. Ogoni people are often plagued with the diabolic penchant for building mountains out of molehills and spend all their lives climbing the mountains. These mountains are avoidable. We must seek to concentrate on the things that bind us together as a people, and pay less attention to the things that separate us.

Certain people keep peddling the divisive tale of how some Ogoni communities are oil-bearing communities while others are not. This peddled perception causes schism, threatens internal cohesion and tend to deflate the "Ogoni momentum." Sadly, dependence on the statistics of SPDC is absolutely misleading, archaic and counter-productive. It's imperative to recall that SPDC was not committed to extracting the gas reserves.

Records abound that SPDC commenced operations in Ogoniland in 1958 and Thirteen (13) years down the road, precisely 1971, Shell stumbled on a super prolific gas field (the North Field) in Qatar. Shell abandoned the massive gas deposit because they weren't looking for gas. Qatar started extracting gas in 1995, Twenty-three years later. Within Ten (10) years, Qatar's GDP per capita leap-frogged from roughly Two Thousand (2,000) USD to about Fifty Thousand (50,000) USD. Today, Qatar has become a global destination and thrives profusely under a highly diversified economy with massive investments in diverse fields including sports and aviation.

Back home to the scenario in Ogoniland, there are diverse cases of abandoned gas fields often tagged "drill-and-cock." These are fields where SPDC found massive gas deposits; they cocked the wells and left. The company only concentrated on fields where the associated gas reserves were manageable, and they would flare the gas in order to access the oil. Thus, it's absurd to use such dismal history of SPDC's economic expedition in Ogoniland to judge and determine the status of oil-bearing and non-oil-bearing communities. In fact, the entire Ogoniland is a basket of massive oil and gas. Arise, Ogoni people arise!

Of course, it's in critical moments like this that ordinary people often rise up to do extra-ordinary things. All eyes must be on the ball. During the last visit of some Ogoni leaders to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for the sole purpose of submitting the report of the Prof. Don Baridam-led Ogoni Dialogue Committee, a crucial assignment was further given to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The NSA was further mandated to commence facilitation of another round of engagements and consultations which would result into the formation of Two (2) distinct committees as follows: (i) Committee to negotiate the confidence-building measures as stipulated in the report of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee; and (ii) Committee to negotiate the very sensitive issue of resumption of oil and gas production in Ogoniland. Mr. President was quite blunt on the composition of the Two (2) committees. They were to be composed of the federal government, NNPCL, ONSA and the Ogoni people (to comprise of leaders, professionals and community stakeholders).

The Ogoni people are on stand-by, but everywhere appear to be experiencing graveyard calmness. Sadly, it's difficult to comprehend the import of the silence when NNPCL is observed to be visiting certain communities perceived to house oil and gas deposits under the toga of consulting leaders of such communities. We wonder whether these officers of NNPCL and their ill-fated collaborators are not making a mockery of the genuine intentions of Mr. President and also insulting the collective sensibilities of the peace-loving Ogoni people.

Our greatest weapon is the weapon of truth. Truth strikes a common chord that can be felt throughout the entire universe. Truth is the priceless weapon of the champion. With the power of truth, the champion can march into hell for a heavenly cause and come out unhurt. And champions are made; they are not born. They grow to discover their area of strength and excel therein. The Ogoni people must drill deeper to achieve the best from the opportunity offered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He's a distinctive champion with answers that last.

CONCLUSION

It is imperative to cap it up by recalling that the reckless operational model of SPDC left in its toll unprecedented negative externalities which inevitably stampeded the local community people of Ogoniland into a state whereby our kits and kin gasped for breath. Interestingly, the Ogoni people have promptly realized that life is not a Father-Christmas. They have adequately understood that life only gives whatever is demanded. And the demand must come with clear purpose, consuming passion and pin-point precision. 

The lessons of life often depict that despair and despondency inevitably expose cracks in the process of preparation. In Ogoniland, poverty has become a sprawling monster that has perpetually held Ogoni people willy-nilly under the spell of "resource curse." The ever growing "Ogoni momentum" is the recipe for respite, recovery and restoration. There lies the solid hope that a new dawn of triumph over poverty has come.

Ab initio, our doubts have been our traitors. They (our doubts) would often make us lose sight of our goal when we might have won. When we fail to make hard core, frantic and concerted attempts, we succumb to defeat. Doubts are destructive; we must expunge every trace of it. The goodwill of Mr. President coupled with his myriad of answers that last come along as catalysts for sustaining the "Ogoni momentum." With an enduring focus on the vision to resuscitate the people's passion and the vibrant commitment to recalibrate the economic nerves of Ogoniland sustained by an unbroken tie with divinity, the "Ogoni momentum" shall conquer poverty.

Dr. Terry Mission Bagia, Esq.

(Petroleum Law Expert & Int'l Law Scholar)

PRESIDENT,

Ogoni Brain Trust Foundation (OGBT) &

SPOKESMAN,

Greater Ogonis in Diaspora Organization (GODO).

Tel: +234(0)816269038

Email: bagiatm@gmail.com