MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not trigger a crisis in Ogoniland by supporting a forceful resumption of oil production, despite mounting pressure from private interests.

In a statement signed by MOSOP Secretary-General Alex Akori, the group’s president, Fegalo Nsuke, urged Ogoni people to remain calm, assuring them that the Tinubu administration would not jeopardize national stability—especially in the run-up to the 2027 general elections—for the benefit of a few.

Speaking at the MOSOP secretariat in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people, Nsuke described recent moves to restart oil operations in Ogoni as “deceptive and fraudulent.” He accused unnamed oil industry actors and private interests of attempting to trample on the rights of Ogoni communities without proper engagement.

“The recent move to force a restart of oil production in Ogoni is one of the most deceptive and fraudulent attempts by the oil industry in collaboration with some private interests,” Nsuke said. “I believe Mr President will not listen to them or yield to the temptation of igniting a crisis in Ogoni or the Niger Delta region at this time.”

He warned that any attempt to resume oil production without consent from the people would not only provoke resistance but also risk serious reputational damage to the government. “It will be better for them to let the sleeping dog lie than hurt the reputation of the government,” he added.

Nsuke emphasized the need for dialogue and called on the Nigerian government to engage constructively with MOSOP to find a lasting resolution to the decades-long Ogoni crisis. He announced plans to launch civic education initiatives across Ogoni communities to keep the people informed and peaceful in the face of provocation.

According to the MOSOP leader, the latest campaign to resume oil production is an ambush on President Tinubu. “If he falls to it, he will have to contend with a global image crisis and strong resistance on the home front,” Nsuke warned. “If he heeds the advice of MOSOP, the Ogoni problem will be permanently resolved, giving him a boost in reputation both locally and internationally.”

He concluded by reaffirming MOSOP’s willingness to engage in peaceful dialogue and urged the government to seize the opportunity for a constructive resolution, warning that any crisis at this stage would be politically costly.