Ogoni Hail Establishment Of Federal University Of Environment, Ogoni

There has been a groundswell of celebration among the Ogoni people Rivers State after President Bola Tinubu gave his assent to the law establishing the Federal University of Environment, Ogoni.
The frontline Ogoni activist, Celestine Akpobari, said, “The government of Nigeria is gradually paying for the oil that was stolen over 30 years long. This is a welcome development.
Robins Pie said, “We thank God Almighty and let’s hope they continue to toe the right path. What the Ogonis are asking for is not much, given their environment that has been degraded for over 60 years from hydrocarbon pollution.
“For me the total implementation of the (Ogoni) Bill of Rights is the only game changer and win-win for us the most oppressed minority of the world and from the Nigerian state.
Lucky Abugi said, “Congratulations to all of us as Ogoni people for this development today. I so much appreciate the Distinguished Senator, Barry Mpigi for pushing it hard to this level.”
But a few other people had their reservations. Teeyira Kaanabari said it was not enough to proclaim the university without funding it. “One thing is to sign and another is to release money for implementation,” he said.
The Bill for the establishment of the university was promoted by Senator Barry Mpigi in 2018 when he was in the House of Representatives.
Observers however linked the assent to the university’s bill by President Bola Tinubu as one of the moves by the Federal Government to get the Ogoni to soften on their stand against the resumption of oil production in Ogoni land.
The Ogoni had vowed not to allow oil to be exploited in their land since 1993 following their protest against oil pollution and political marginalisation of the people.
But President Tinubu last month initiated a consultation with the people about resuming oil production in the land. As an immediate follow-up, the President appointed two Ogoni sons, Senator Magnus Abe and Victor Giadom into two federal boards. The two men are political associates of Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, who some Ogoni had accused of marginalizing them when he was Governor of Rivers State.