KAGOTE isn’t against oil resumption in Ogoni, but conducts of few in ODC 

The apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ogoni people KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme) has raised the alarm over the conducts of some individuals in Ogoni Dialogue Committee, ODC, capable of causing crises in the the move by the Federal Government to resume oil exploration in the area.

KAGOTE, however, stated that it is not against the good move by the federal fovernment to resume oil exploration in Ogoni, but against the actions of some members of the ODC. 

The President of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, who addressed news men in Port Harcourt over what he described as the state of the move to resume oil production in Ogoni, noted that ODC had failed to carry all sections of the nationality in the dialogue and confidence building process.

Maol stressed that if the activities of the dialogue committee constituted by the Government is not checked that the people in the quest for oul resumption might be plunged into crises.

He said “It is with a deep sense of responsibility, respect for constituted authority, and commitment to the peace, unity and development of Ogoniland that I Chief Lesi Maol, the President of KAGOTE, the apex Socio-cultural organization of Ogoni people, wish to address you today on the several burning issues as it relates to oil resumption that might lead to crisis in Ogoniland.

“The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) was inaugurated by the Federal Government in January 2025 with the important mandate of engaging the Ogoni people in good faith towards achieving a durable resolution of the issues surrounding the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, while rebuilding trust and strengthening relations between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Our concerns are therefore not directed against the Federal Government, the President, the National Security Adviser or the legitimate objective of responsibly resuming oil production in Ogoniland. Rather, they relate to the conduct of a few individuals whose actions, in our view, require urgent clarification and intervention to preserve the credibility of the dialogue process.”

Maol noted that there is no clarity on reports that exploration activities have ready resumed in parts of Ogoni while the dialogue and confidence building processes have not been exhausted. 

He noted that there is already growing tension in Ogoni over that said commencement of business in the area, regretting that the Committee has also failed to clarify or communicate the realities on the ground to stakeholders.

There is growing apprehension among sections of the Ogoni population that certain oil-related activities may have commenced in parts of Ogoniland while consultations between the Federal Government and Ogoni stakeholders remain ongoing.
The absence of clear information from the leadership of the ODC on this matter has created uncertainty within our communities. 

Maol noted that it beloved on KAGOTE to speak up when thing were not rights, adding that its commitment is to ensure that the good plans of the federal government is achieved for the benefit of all.

He said “As the President of KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ogoni people, established in 1947 and representing Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme, I have a responsibility to speak when issues arise that could affect the collective interests of our people.

“This responsibility does not place us in opposition to the Federal Government. Neither are we opposed to constructive discussions concerning the responsible resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.”

Meanwhile, the Second Vice President of KAGOTE and member of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee Rear Admiral, John Nicholas Bapko (rtd) regretted that even as a member of the ODC that he had being shut out of what is happening within the body

He said he as a member cannot explain how the NNPCL job alloted to Ogoni was distributed, accusing the body of lack of transparency.

He said “I cannot explain to anybody how the 40 slots that was given by NNPCL, as part of confidence building measures prior to the negotiations, was distributed among the LGAs. Neither do I know the name of any of the beneficiaries. Yet I am a member of the Committee.

“I am also a member of the Monitoring Team for the confidence building projects in Khana LGA but neither do I know the contractors nor have the scope of work to be monitored. 

“These are but a few example of the lack of transparency in the operation of the Committee. When I requested information on some of the issues raised and demanded for some level of transparency and accoutability, I was seriously attacked on the platform and even in the open physical meeting for sacrilege.”

Also, Rev’d. Msgr. Pius Kii, Members Ogoni and Member of KAGOTE, noted that dialogue ought to be transparent, but regretted that the process in Ogoni is rather secretive.

Kii noted that the people of Ogoni are supposed to know what is being negotiated in their name, stressing that the ODC was concluding deals within attention to the future.

He questioned the haste in ODC to achieve oil resumption in Ogoni within few days in office, noting that the people had ensured 33 years without oil business.

Kii noted that establishment of Bori State remained sacrosanct for the people, questioning while the committee on its own accord move the demand of the people from top to the seventh position. 

He said: “Ogoni needs projects that will not just be described as a quick win. We are not calling for a stop on the project, but a get it right.

“My concern is therefore not whether there should be dialogue. My concern is whether the dialogue is sufficiently transparent, and properly sequenced to produce an outcome that the Ogoni people can genuinely own.
“From the outset, there has been a disturbing tendency to conduct matters of profound public consequence in a manner that appears deliberately sub secreto.”