OGONI in Rivers State have called on the Federal Government to initiate a process for another oil firm other than Shell to begin oil exploration activities in their areas.

A statement issued on the platform of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People blamed the Federal Government and Shell for the failure of the Presidential initiative headed by Father Mathew Kukah to reconcile them and Shell.

The statement said they had expressed willingness to cooperate in order to see that the initiative succeeds but they were sad to discover that the key issues that informed the birth of the Father Kukah committee were yet to be discussed at any forum involving the Federal Government, MOSOP and Shell before the multinational oil firm begun subterranean moves to come back to the area.

Noting that they had not even heard from the facilitator of the peace process, Father Kukah for about four months, the statement signed by the Information Officer of the body, Mr. Bariaria Kpalep further lamented the deplorable state of Ogoni land.

The statement reads in part," Movement The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) is accusing the Nigerian authorities and Shell of killing the Ogoni dialogue process at precisely the time when such engagements are the only viable alternative to the violence now seen in the Niger Delta.