The Ogoni Youths Development Initiative (OYDI) has threatened massive protests across Ogoniland over alleged moves to resume oil exploration, saying the Federal Government must first create Bori State or abandon plans to resume oil production.

In a notice of protest addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the group alleged “clandestine and insincere moves” to restart oil operations while discussions with critical stakeholders were still ongoing.

OYDI said it did not oppose economic development or oil exploration but insisted that the sacrifices of Ogoni leaders and decades of environmental devastation in the area could not be ignored.

The notice, signed by the Global President of OYDI, Imeabe Saviour Oscar, declared: “At this stage of our struggle, the only outcome that can truly commensurate with the lives lost and the environmental devastation suffered is the immediate creation of Bori State.”

The youths warned that if the Federal Government was unwilling to grant the demand for Bori State, it should leave Ogoni oil “in the ground.”

“If the Federal Government cannot grant this simple request of the Ogoni people by creating Bori State, then they must leave our oil in the ground,” the group said.

OYDI expressed concern over what it described as the lack of transparency surrounding the planned resumption of oil operations, alleging that pipelines were being laid across Ogoniland even as dialogue with stakeholders was said to be ongoing.

The group said, “A stark example of this insincerity is the ongoing laying of pipelines across Ogoniland while stakeholders are supposedly still talking. This act of bad faith undermines our people and proves that the current process is designed to exploit us once again and cause more chaos in our midst rather than ameliorate the years of suffering.”

The youth organisation also demanded the immediate disbandment of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC), saying it had lost confidence in the committee.

It accused the committee of lacking transparency and inclusiveness, particularly in its engagement with the youth population. (The Nation)