The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has alleged “an intensive promotion of Sahara Energy, a company with strong affinity to Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the ill-fated governorship candidate of the APC in the last election, Pst. Tonye Cole, as a possible operator of the Ogoni oilfields, OML 11.”

A statement issued on Friday in Bori, Ogoniland, signed by MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke said: “MOSOP wishes to state its unequivocal rejection of Sahara Energy and all other schemers including Shell, NPDC/NNPC, Belema Oil and Robo Micheal for the Ogoni oilfields until the fundamental demands of the Ogoni people are properly negotiated.

We note that the demands of the Ogoni are justifiable and include a fair demand for political rights to self determination which is currently enjoyed by other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

MOSOP calls on all promoters of Sahara Energy to stop forthwith as their activities portends real threats to the peace and stability of Ogoniland which we are currently grappling with.

We further urge the management of Sahara Energy to disabuse their minds and bury all intentions to lobby for OML 11 as the contentious issues raised by the Ogoni people are yet to be addressed and the issues are far beyond the capacity or any other oil firm to address.