Following federal government's failure to practically address issues facing the Ogoni people in Rivers state, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) is set to resume active agitation from February this year, just as it vowed to play a determining role in the coming general election.

In his statement delivered at the 15th Ogoni Day Celebration in Bori, Khana local government area of Rivers state on Thursday, the President of MOSOP, Barr. Ledum Mitee, lashed at the government for failing to give life to its myriads of promises to the people.

Mitee, who addressed a well attended ceremony after several other speakers, mostly politicians seeking elective offices from 2007, said Ogoni people had been left no other choice than to demand what was due to them through non-violence, but determined agitation.

According to him, the Ogoni people had "tried the path of patience and engagement", but that "it is vital that we peacefully go back to the streets to remind all those concerned that we and the problems for which our leaders died are still here".

He noted that the people had discovered that both government and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) had grown deaf to their plights, making it highly necessary for them to make a move.

"But when we find ourselves clearly at a stage where government and Shell seem inclined to ignore anything but its complacency and failings, then we may need to call in aid the bravery and commitment we showed in the period under the military and an ability to stand together without question on certain basic principles.