2517 W DEVON AVE. STE 5 , CHICAGO IL 60659, USA.

www.nuos-ogoni.org nuos.intl@gmail.com773-2507004.

The Chief Executive Officer

Shell International,

York Road

London SE1 7 NA

United Kingdom

January 23, 2006

SHELL/OGONI RECONCILIATION A FRAUD
 

We have watched keenly the recent move by your Nigerian subsidiary; Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to foster pseudo-reconciliation with Ogoni. For obvious reasons, we as a people and as an affected interest group in Ogoni and many others holding stake in Ogoni freedom and development, have equally been very watchful of all moves made by Shell since it was kicked out of Ogoni in 1993.
 

From the unfolding "drama", we have discovered that there is no genuine interest by the Nigerian government and Shell oil to address the Ogoni question. We therefore view Shell's core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people as a hawk. From our analysis, Shell intends to forcefully return to Ogoniland for oil exploitation under the guise of reconciling with a select few that may have been on its payroll.

We also convey to you that we stand by the declaration by over 300,000 Ogoni persons on Jan 4, 1993, that Shell Oil remains a persona non grata in Ogoniland. We are conscious of the consequences that befell Ogoniland and its people after the said declaration.
 

As soon as Shell Oil was accused of environmental racism, Shell Oil collaborated with the Nigerian state to turn our neighbors, the Andoni, against us. In that debacle, Shell Oil supplied arms to the Andoni who completely razed twenty six Ogoni villages.   No Ogoni person was compensated or resettled thereafter by the Nigerian government.

Furthermore, part of Ogoni territory including Tombee, Afam, Keeikoro, etc, was, and is still being laid siege to up until today. Ogoni lost millions of dollars in property. Over 4000 persons were killed while over 300,000 became refugees. It is well recorded that Shell docked itself at the military tribunal that hanged our leaders Ken Saro-Wiwa, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, etc.
 

The company was represented by a counsel, Mr. Okocha. This obviously shows the company's interest in seeking the extinction of Ogoni and its accredited leaders.

On the above notes, we submit to you that we lack trust in the Rev. Matthew Kukah led reconciliation committee between Shell and Ogoni.

Ten years after the Ogoni demands for environmental justice, equity and compensation of $40 billion for accumulated mining rents since 1958, the Nigerian government and your company has treated the Ogoni question with complete ignomity.
 

Shell oil still flares natural gas in the Ogoni area in violation of the mineral oil (Safety) Regulation of 1963, and the Gas Re-injection Act of 1979 which deals with safe discharge of noxious or inflammable gases and provides penalties for contravention and non-compliance; and the re-injection of un-utilized gas in an industrial project.

The Ebubu spill site still exists and remains uncleaned since 1970 in violation of the Petroleum Drilling and Petroleum Regulations of 1969 and the Oil Pipeline Act of 1956 (as amended by Oil Pipelines Act 1965) which prevents the pollution of land or any waterway. Several years after the United Nation's Rapporteur Reports and recommendations and other demands by international organizations for Shell and Nigeria's compensation to the Ogonis and the families of the hanged Ogonis, your company and the Nigerian State has totally disregarded the said recommendations. Your company's recent activities and records in Malaysia and the United States of America further support our claim and exposes Shell's racial underlining.

For instance, the New York Times, Wednesday July 13, 2005, page C.6, reports "Shell accepted to pay $90 million compensation to settle a lawsuit by its employees in the United Sates after the company's restatements of its oil and gas reserves by a total of 41 percent".
 

Our records show that your company has caused 5724 oil spillages in the Niger Delta totaling 2,571, 113.90 barrels of oil spilled into the environment from 1976 through 1998, and no such compensation above was paid.

These spillages were caused by recklessness from your company. It is also clear that your company has violated all the laws and Acts in the Nigerian Status books -The Mineral Oil (safety) Regulations 1963, Petroleum Regulation of 1967, Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulation 1969, Oil and Navigable waters Act 1968, Oil Terminal Dues Act 1969, Petroleum Refining Regulations 1974 etc.   Your company obviously does not care about redressing these issues and obliging stipulated penalties.

Ogoni students also helplessly witnessed the ecological damage to their environment, decline in aquatic lives, toxic effects of oil spillage, destruction of their mangrove forest, farmlands, drinkable water and the consistent corruption and bribery and crises resulting there from Shell's business.
 

On this note, we, the Ogoni students in Diaspora, reaffirm our commitment to the just struggle of the Movement For The Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), DEMAND that the Ogoni Bills of Right (OBR) remain the Ogoni reference point for ALL discussions with Shell or the Government of Nigeria. We stand firmly against all monetary inducements by Shell oil and the political bait of placing Ogoni citizens in key governmental positions.
 

Deserving Ogoni sons and daughters may hold positions due them, but this must not be in exchange for Shell's return to further exploitation of our environment and resources. Additionally, if further abandoned, by the Nigerian government, the Ogoni people shall sign contracts with corporations that would take Ogoni community to heart.

Our minimum demands from the Nigeria Government include:

1. Meeting the Ogoni demands as stated in the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR). This document was presented to the Nigerian government and Shell in 1990. All demands therein shall be followed and met by the Nigerian government and Shell (SPDC and Shell International).

2. We demand total exoneration of Ken-Saro-Wiwa, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Nordo Eawo, Felix Nuate, and David Gbokoo,... from the criminal records that were used in executing them in 1995.

3. We demand the creation of an Ogoni State. This demand is non-negotiable as all discussions must be carried out in Ogoni by Ogonis and for the development of Ogoni.

4. We demand grants and scholarship awards to all Ogoni students in tertiary institutions around the world. This is done in the civilized world as a means of human development in all communities where natural resources are in abundance.

5. We demand a joint conduction of Health, Social, and Environmental Impact Assessment studies in Ogoni by Shell and International Environmental groups appointed by the Ogoni people. This is long overdue as effects of previous gas flares and exploitation may still be dangerous to those exposed to it.

6. We demand a halt the ongoing parley headed by

Fr. Kukah between Shell and a section of the Ogoni people as it will lead to unavoidable bloodshed in the area. We will not accept N2b (Two billion Naira) in exchange for $40 million in mining rents since 1958.

We hereby dissociate ourselves from all parties negotiating for Shell's return to Ogoni. We will hold all parties liable for any crisis and loss of lives that result from this forced reconciliation on our people.

Sir, we have stated the above in good faith and sincerity, and demand that you would use your executive office to give the Ogoni people the peace they deserve.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Pius Barikpoa Nwinee

Chairman, Caretaker Committee
 

Blessing Wifa

Secretary, Caretaker Committee
 

Freddie Idamkue

Member, Caretaker Committee
 

"We are going to demand our RIGHTS - Peacefully, Non-violently, and we shall WIN" Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941-1995)