By Akanimo Sampson
THE Ogoni mass movement, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has warned the National Assembly, the legislative arm of the Federal Government against provoking oil-bearing communities ofthe Niger Delkta into a renewed cycle of violence.
The Ogoni people want the lawmakers to rescind their decision to drop the Host Community Fund (HCF) from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)
President of MOSOP, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, who made this known in Port Harcourt, the Tivers State capital, on Wednesday, while speaking to journalists said that the removal of the Host Community Fund in the current PIB)by the fedral legislators is detrimental to the economic survival of the peoples of the oil region and should be stoutly resisted.
The MOSOP leader says the passage of the PIB bill is over-due in the National Assembly and the purported removal of the Host Community Fund which is the backbone of the bill is uncalled for and is an invitation to anarchy as this is the only part of the bill that assures community participation in the entire oil industry.
He stressed that if the Host Community Fund is removed as has been speculated, what hope will the host community who has suffered pain, environmental degradation and pollution arising from oil spill that has over the years impoverish the people.
They have therefore, tasked the 8th Assembly to retrace their step and not to invite the wrath of the Niger Delta People that has supported the country economically but hasnothing to show for it since oil exploration and exploitation in the region.