Oil pollution is having a devastating effect on Ogoniland, Rivers State, with over 200 Ogonis dying weekly from organ failures, strange sicknesses, the new President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Fegalo Nsuke, has said. He made the claim on Friday, January 4, 2019, during the 27th celebration of the Ogoni Day in Bori.

“As a people, we currently face very difficult times. Over 200 Ogonis die weekly from organ failures and strange sicknesses. Our land is seriously threatened by the effects of Shell’s pollution of over 50 years. We must be united and tolerant of each other to save ourselves and our land,” Mr. Nsuke, who recently emerged MOSOP’s new leader, said in his speech.

On the solution to the travails of Ogonis, the MOSOP President said: “To the Nigerian people and government, we demand that our political rights to self determination – our rights to function in Nigeria as “OGONI PEOPLE” – must be respected.”

He, however, urged the Ogoni “to remain non-violent as we match to regain our lost dignity.”

Nsuke described the event as “a turning point in the history of our struggle for justice in Nigeria. Not only because a new leadership of the movement has emerged out of a strong determination and effort of the Ogoni People to break free from the past.”

He acknowledged the bruised egos arising from the election that produced him as MOSOP President but appealed for unity, saying: “It is normal for the differences and difficult times we faced during the past transition. However, elections have come and gone and it’s time to be united for the common good.”

Nsuke, a journalist and immediate past National Publicity Secretary of MOSOP, paid tribute to past Ogoni heroes, saluting “the spirit of our founding father, Hon. T.N. Paul Birabi, the spirit of our martyrs, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Chief Edward Kobani, Albert Badey, Theophilus Orage, Samuel Orage, John Kpuinen, NuBari Kiobel, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Felix Nuate, Daniel Gbokoo, Paul Levura, Baribor Bera and over 2,000 others.”

News Expressreports that the event was graced by a large crowd of Ogonis from far and near.