President of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, has called on the people of Ogoniland to put aside their differences and unite in the interest of peace, development and the collective wellbeing of the area as plans for the resumption of oil activities gather momentum.
Maol, in a message titled, “A New Beginning for Ogoni,” said his organisation’s earlier concerns over the proposed resumption of oil production were not intended to frustrate the process or seek control of it.
He said the intervention was aimed at ensuring that the process was transparent, fair, inclusive and capable of earning the confidence of the Ogoni people.
“Our position has always been straightforward: a matter of such historic importance to Ogoni should be approached with transparency, fairness, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to the collective benefit of our people,” he said.
According to him, the objective was to ensure that the resources beneath Ogoni soil would translate into meaningful benefits for the Federal Government, the people and future generations.
Maol acknowledged that the debate over oil resumption had generated strong opinions and different interpretations, saying some of KAGOTE’s positions might not have been understood as intended.
He, however, said the organisation had decided to put the disagreements behind it after consultations with family, friends and compatriots.
“We bear no ill will towards anyone. If anything we said or did during these engagements caused offence, whether intended or otherwise, we sincerely ask that we put it behind us,” he said.
The KAGOTE president also called on Ogoni elders, traditional rulers, political and community leaders, youths, women, professionals, religious leaders and businesspeople to work together to advance the interests of the area.
He appealed particularly to those who had supported KAGOTE’s position to end personal attacks and social media confrontations.
“No Ogoni leader, elder, individual or group should be insulted in our name or in defence of any position we have taken,” he said.
Maol stressed that unity did not mean that legitimate questions should no longer be asked, saying Ogoni people could disagree on issues without becoming enemies.
“We can demand transparency without damaging relationships. We can correct one another without diminishing our shared identity,” he said.
On the resumption of oil production, the KAGOTE president said the concerns previously raised were intended to strengthen rather than frustrate the process.
He said transparency was essential to building confidence, but added that progress should also be acknowledged where leaders were increasingly finding common ground on the collective interests of Ogoni.
He urged stakeholders to shift attention from disagreements over who said or supported what to the more fundamental question of what Ogoni would gain from oil production.
“Our focus should be on ensuring that the resources with which God has blessed our land translate into commonwealth, sustainable development, employment, infrastructure, opportunities for our youths and a better future for generations yet unborn,” he said.
Maol said if oil activities resumed, the process should carry the people along and leave Ogoni better than it was before.
He also said he was prepared to serve as a bridge among stakeholders and work with anyone genuinely committed to the dignity, development and prosperity of Ogoni.
“We would rather be remembered as a bridge that helped bring Ogoni together than as another voice that widened our divisions,” he said.
He described Ogoni as the common home of its people and said oil should become a source of development rather than a cause of division.
Maol consequently called for an end to what he described as “social media wars” and personal attacks, urging stakeholders to replace confrontation with dialogue, suspicion with transparency and rivalry with cooperation.
He said the current moment presented an opportunity for Ogoni to demonstrate the capacity to manage its differences and resources responsibly.
“What matters now is Ogoni. What matters is our people. What matters is the legacy we leave behind,” he said.
He urged Ogoni people to support leaders pursuing the common good, continue to ask legitimate questions respectfully and ensure that the interests of ordinary people remain central to decisions concerning the area.
“Let this be a call for unity and an end to hostility against ourselves on all fronts. Let love lead us all,” Maol said.
