The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says it has uncovered a plot by key oil industry operators in Nigeria to kill its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara.

“This plot is being hatched through the sponsorship of local actors to engage in a campaign of calumny against the leadership of MOSOP, cause crises in Ogoni and provide an environment to kill the MOSOP by replicating the Ken Saro-Wiwa treatment,” MOSOP said Wednesday in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Fegalo Nsuke.

“We want to alert the world of the activities of Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Michael Limited, all Nigerian companies, who has engaged local actors, sponsoring groups and individuals solely to cause crises in Ogoni to justify a crackdown on activists and treat the present leadership of MOSOP in the same way it dealt with a generation of Ogoni leaders in the 90s which eventually led to the 1995 hangings.

“MOSOP unequivocally says ‘no’ to any plan to resume oil production in Ogoniland until it is properly negotiated. We further denounce the activities of Belema Oil and Robo Michael in Ogoniland,” the statement said.

It added: “We emphasise that the Ogoni problem is not just about oil but an unjust system that has marginalised our people, discriminated against us and is driving us into extinction. These, we must note, are far beyond the capacity of any oil local industry operator to resolve.

“MOSOP therefore restates its position on the Ogoni conflict, insisting that the three parties to the conflict including Shell, the Nigerian government and the Ogoni people must dialogue to resolve these issues.

“We call on the Ogoni people to be mindful of these devilish plots by the Nigerian oil industry being orchestrated by Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Michael Limited and urge them not to be lured and used by the oil industry against our people.”