Planned Oil Resumption: Ogoni Landlord Warn FG, IOCs Over Impersonation

Following the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, a group under the aegis of Bonafide Landlords Of Ogoni have warned the Federal Government, International Oil Companies (IOCs), and the International Community to beware of impostors posing as genuine landlords.

The warning was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the group’s leaders, including Eng Benjamin Harry, Chief Kenneth Keke, Comrade Kenneth Toate, Pastor David Sudoo, and Pastor Aban Saturday Kpoponee.

According to the statement, the group rose from an emergency meeting in Eleme on Monday to issue a seven-point communique, where they endorsed the ongoing investigation into Oil companies’ MOU, CSR, and land grabbing, as approved by the federal government.

The landlords also appealed to the Federal Government to be cautious not to collaborate with individuals bent on oppressing genuine host landlords.

They further urged the government to support Comrade Agi Bestman in carrying out a perimeter survey in Ogoniland, expressing optimism that this would bring an end to the issue of land grabbing and impersonation of genuine host landlords.

The group threatened that those masquerading as host landlords would face severe consequences if they fail to desist. The warning comes as the Nigerian government prepares to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland, a region that has faced significant environmental degradation and social unrest due to oil pollution.

The communique reads: “Following an announcement made by a faction of Ogoni People claiming to be the host landlords of oil and gas facilities in Ogoni, we the genuine Ogoni oil and gas host landlords drawn from Eleme, Gokhana, Khana and Tai Local Government Areas of Rivers State, at an emergency meeting held on Monday January 2025 at Happease Hotels in Eleme LGA hereby issue a seven- point communique.

“That the individuals who claim to be host landlords should forthwith desist from parading themselves as host landlords of Ogoni Oil and Gas facilities.

“That the federal government is requested to carry a fact finding visit to verify the true landlords of oil bearing communities in Ogoni.

“That we as bonafide landlords of Ogoni Oil and Gas facilities have an accurate data of genuine host landlords in Ogoni.

“That we as a group are backed with verifiable letters of consent and authorization by all genuine host landlords to act on their behalf.

“That we support the ongoing Oil companies MOU, CSR and land grabbing investigation as approved by the federal government of Nigeria and domiciled in the federal ministry of petroleum resources; and we are calling for a discreet investigation into the said issues before commencement of talks to resume oil operations in Ogoniland.

“We appeal to the federal Government to be cautious as not to collaborate with individuals who are bent on oppressing the Host landlords of Oil and Gas facilities in Ogoni.

“We appeal to the federal government to give support to Comrade Agi Bestman in carrying out a perimeter survey in Ogoniland – we believe this would bring an end to the issue of land grabbing and impersonation of genuine host landlords.

“We call on the federal government, the international community as well as IOCs to refrain from embarking on actions that may lead to a breach of peace in Ogoniland.”

Planned Oil Resumption: Ogoni Landlord Warn FG, IOCs Over Impersonation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper