USA-Based Ogoni Groups Write Shell UK ...Seek Urgent Intervention In Ogoni, Niger Delta

United States of America (USA)-based groups; Ogoni-American Organisation, the National Union of Ogoni Students International (NUOS INTL USA), the Center for Democracy Human Rights and Anti-Corruption International (CDHRAC INT'L USA), and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has written a letter to Shell Oil, United Kingdom on the purported onshore oil sale of Shell activities in Ogoni, Niger Delta, Nigeria.

The letter, addressed to the Managing Director of Shell Oil, United Kingdom, was entitled; "Urgent Intervention Needed in Ogoni, Niger Delta Nigerian Environmental Crisis And Opposition To Shell's Purported Onshore Activities Sale," dated February 11, 2024 and co-signed by Mr Pius Barikpoa Nwinee, President of the National Union of Ogoni Students, NUOS Int'l USA and the Coordinator of CDHRAC INT'L, USA, Mr Cornelius Dumerrne.

The groups said in the letter that Royal Dutch Shell remains persona non grata in Ogoniland, and that Ogoni oil, particularly OML 11, is not for sale or transfer.

"As you are aware, Royal Dutch Shell was smuggled through the backdoor by the government of the United Kingdom into its old colony on the eve of her departure to represent the country's political and economic interests to prospect our oil without the consent and permission of our people.

"As a result, Royal Dutch Shell obtained our oil through fraud, theft, and deception. Evidently, Royal Dutch Shell refused to pay rent, royalty, and lease to our people and instead waged an ecological war on Ogoni, Niger Delta, and Nigeria.

"Royal Dutch Shell cannot sell what she obtained by deception. Hence, we suggest you bequeath OML 11 to Ogoni people and onshore oil to the Niger Delta because OML 11 and other onshore oil are not for sale or transfer.

"We also suggest that you take down the purported onshore sale of oil wherever you listed them, whether in the USA, UK, or Nigerian Stock Exchange because stolen property or goods, including our oil, cannot be listed on civilized or law-binding stock exchanges without recourse to the host. Buyers or trade agents should beware," the letter read.

The groups added that "the ultimate question Shell must and should answer is, can anyone buy a car from a carjacker? Of course not, and it is our impression that this will not start now, no matter how powerful, highly connected, or privileged Royal Dutch Shell is and no matter the influence she gets from her parent government. 

"We are not seeking conflict or fight with Royal Dutch Shell or seeking conflict or fight with its parent government or any government, but we insist that our blood oil money cannot be bought. We demand justice for our lives and our environment."

Royal Dutch Shell was then advised to concentrate and mobilise international attention, hire the best professionals, and employ people with the technical know-how and proper capacity with good technology to clean Ogoni's poisoned land, air, water, and ecosystem as recommended by the United Nations Environmental Programs (UNEP). 

"Instead of doing that, they have passed a 30-year death sentence on our people, our food, air, land, and ecosystem. Shell is busy plotting to stab Ogoni, Niger Delta, and Nigerians in the back by selling OML 11 and other onshore projects. 

"But sadly, they want to sell the remaining bones of our hanged heroes through the backdoor at the expense of our people; this is not only unacceptable but criminal.

"Ogoni or Niger Delta's oil is Nigerian oil, and Nigerian oil is Ogoni or Niger Delta oil. So, the notion that you can sell what you never owned, bought, or inherited or acquired by law is illegal and criminal, and this doesn't change the fact that it was stolen and obtained by fraud, theft, and deception," they said.

While saying that they do not oppose Royal Dutch Shell, the groups said that they certainly "oppose Royal Dutch Shell lying and telling the world it has oil to sell instead of liabilities. What is also wrong is the fact that Royal Dutch Shell's attempt and attempted impropriety to pass the buck to its clandestine agents, associates, and partners in crime bearing its pseudo-name are not only unacceptable but cannot be condoned."

"Royal Dutch Shell is not immune from both civil and criminal prosecution in Nigeria for its crimes or the crimes of its staff, agents, associates, and third party. 

"So, the call by Royal Dutch Shell on President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government to approve the sale of Shell Oil's onshore activities is illegal. 

"The request that President Tinubu and the Nigerian government should exonerate Royal Dutch Shell from civil and criminal prosecution going on in Nigerian courts does not only amount to the organisation asking President Tinubu and the Nigerian government to interfere with court processes, but also that our President should go against the oaths of office that he took ,while being sworn in or go against the Nigerian constitution. This is unacceptable and laughable.

"Royal Dutch Shell can walk away anytime she chooses once she submits or surrenders our oil to us. But Shell cannot sell our oil and walk away with the profit or pass the deadly carbon and benzene consequences to another company with its pseudo-name, while our people get stuck with the consequences and continue to drink water filled with benzene, continue to breathe hydrocarbons or eat food and fish with benzene," the letter read.

They said further that "Shell's attempt to sell our oil will lead to nothing because receiving stolen property, good, or oil is nothing but theft in law or against the law. 

"We are still committed to opening dialogue with them because things ought not to be this way, but things have to change. We also want to put you on notice that we are not against the resumption of oil prospecting in Ogoniland, but we are against the resumption of oil activities that refuse to consider the ongoing outbreak of radioactive or benzene in our communities.

"As a people, we wish to note that Shell has continued to say all sorts of things about us, especially saying that Nigerian oil is a liability. If Nigerian oil is a liability as Shell wants people to believe, why is she keeping the offshore activities? 

"The only liability we know is that Shell doesn't want to be held accountable for our stolen oil. We are against Shell Oil's refusal to pay rent, royalty, and lease, as well as its refusal to take absolute responsibility for her actions and inactions. We are also offended that Shell Oil has not stopped blaming and scapegoating our people despite its sabotage."

Shell Oil, the groups said, is making several outrageous claims against the people of Ogoniland as a means of distracting attention from its sabotage. 

"We, therefore, respectfully urge President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government to reject and deny Royal Dutch Shell Oil's purported request that the company should be shielded from prosecution or that the President should go against the Nigerian constitution or exempt Royal Dutch Shell from her crimes," the letter read.