June 16, 2009: MOSOP Welcomes Shell's Settlement of Claims of Ogoni Families

While MOSOP recognizes the settlement as  a victory for the Ogoni people and the non-violent tactics it employs, they state that they do hope that this will be extended to the rest of the families of the Ogoni 13 and other victims of similar atrocities across Ogoni and other parts of the Niger Delta.

Whilst MOSOP insists that no monetary compensation would be enough for the loss of lives and limbs, they state that it has always been their position that such recompense would help but state that they should be comprehensive enough to assuage the pains of the people including repair of the region's acknowledged degraded environment. Therefore, they call on the oil mogul to reform its attitude to reflect repentance.

It is MOSOP's hope that the settlement of this claim will act as a tonic for the federal government to immediately engage on the resolution of the outstanding fundamental issues on the Ogoni question as well as follow up on an accelerated development of not only Ogoni but also the rest of the Niger Delta. It is their view that significant dividend could be reaped from the undoubted national and international visibility of the Ogoni cause if a  positive precedent could be set for its just and credible resolution.

They go on to state that welcoming the settlement of this claim in no way means the ushering in of a new era of understanding between Shell and the Ogoni people. MOSOP therefore urges the transnational oil corporation to respect its sack from Ogoni by the Federal Government of Nigeria and stop undermining the national government's hailed position as its social and moral licenses with the Ogoni people have completely collapsed.

Link to full text press release below