Below is an article published by the Nigerian Tribune:

A congress of Ogoni leaders has condemned the imposition of no-go areas by the Federal Government in the proposed national conference.

It also expressed concern over the delay in the implementation of the UNEP’s environmental assessment report on Ogoniland.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the national congress, held on Friday [14 February 2014] in Bori, Rivers State.

The congress was convoked under the auspices of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), with participants including community leaders, youth groups, paramount rulers, women, politicians and professionals.

 The meeting deliberated on a wide range of issues affecting the area, including implementation of the UNEP’s report on Ogoniland, the proposed National Conference, among others.

In the communique signed by its president, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, the congress unanimously and formally resolved on the participation of Ogoni at the upcoming National Conference.

It thus mandated the MOSOP leadership to take further steps to ensure an effective Ogoni participation at the conference.

It agreed and set up an eight-man MOSOP Advisory Committee on the National Conference, led by Professor Ben Naanen.

The other members included His Royal Highness Suanu Baridam, Messrs NenniibariniDube, Keeper Gbaranor, Goodnews Nwabah, Honouranle Kammy Ngelale, Mrs Charity Eebeh and Mrs Neka Ngozi.

 While it reaffirmed its appreciation of the opportunity to talk, it decried the imposition of restricted areas by the Federal Government on the conference.

“Since the amalgamation of 1914 forced peoples and nations into the Nigerian union without their accord, which had undoubtedly affected our co-existence, growth and development, discussions about the continuous existence of peoples must be allowed to flourish so that our relationships in a Nigeria-State will be properly defined.

“Congress thus called on the Nigerian Government to rescind the decision and lift the restrictions,” the communique read in part.

 The congress also expressed sadness over the poor handling of the issue of the proper implementation of UNEP’s environmental assessment report on Ogoni, more than 70 days after the Ogoni protest of December 10, 2013.

 It condemned an alleged attempt by the Federal Government “to continually feed the Ogoni people and the general public on a diet of lies about the commencement of the clean-up of Ogoniland.”

It, therefore, resolved and mandated the MOSOP leadership to take all peaceful means necessary to ensure the implementation of the report by the Nigeria government.

 The meeting also ratified the decision of the Steering Committee of MOSOP, expelling some of members of the organisation including Messrs Jonah Frank, Bartholomew Oluji and Barida Vopnu for anti-MOSOP activities.

It said those affected had consistently refused to heed several warnings to desist from activities capable of bringing the movement to disrepute, including unauthorised publications and formation of an illegal MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators Forum.  The congress restated earlier warnings by MOSOP that Ogoni politicians and their supporters should eschew politics of hatred, bitterness, intolerance and acrimony and unite and work for the common good of the people.