Letom Sinen, Chairman of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), gave a press release on how the Rivers State Government falsified documents claiming about 2,000 hectares of farmland in Ogoni land.
Letom Sinen in his letter says:
"We write to notify you of how the government of Rivers State of Nigeria falsified documents to claim about 2,000 hectares of farmlands in Ogoniland.
We have earlier sent the information regarding this fraud to the editor of www.ogoninews.com and just want to replicate the story below:
The Movement for The Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has revealed documents showing how the Rivers State Government fraudulently acquired over 2,000 hectares of Ogoni farmlands and handed them to a Mexican farmer for the establishment of a banana plantation.
The documents which were publicly distributed in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people by the MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators Forum headed by Frank Jonah revealed that the Rivers State Government's claim of having diligently consulted with the land owners and paid them for the land is far from the truth.
Documents rather reveal a conspiracy between the Rivers State Government and some persons to fraudulently take over Ogoni farmlands and hand it to a Mexican Farmer.
- Document 1: Letter signed on 15th May, 2011: Notification from the Rivers State Government to Ogoni Communities -
- Document 2a: Letter signed on May 16, 2011: Fake Community representatives send a letter of acceptance for the Rivers State Government to take over community farmlands.
- Document 2b: Page 2 of Document 2a
From the documents, the Rivers State Government needs to provide answers to the following questions:
- The letter was addresses to the paramount ruler of Sogho, Chief A. T. Abalubu, who's consent to the land take over is conspicuously not given as he is not a signatory to the so-called provisional approval. See Doc 2a and 2b.
- Is it possible for a notification to be sent on May 15, 2011 and the communities send an acceptance by May 16, 2011 given minimum consultations required to discuss a serious issue as selling 2,000 hectares of farmland?
- Is it possible to consult with all community leaders, heads of families who own the massive land, Community Development Committee (CDC) chairmen, youth leaders and to meaningfully negotiate and agree to give an acceptance letter in less than 24hours?
- Why is the letter not signed by community leaders and heads of families selling the land, rather acceptance letter is signed by ordinary citizens and associates of political office holders?
- In which other case since the inception of the Rivers State Government has any negotiation between government and communities over land acquisition been initiated and agreed upon in 24hours?
Your answers could just be as good as ours but one thing is clear - The Rivers State Government land acquisition in Ogoni was a fraud which Ogoni people reject."
