NATIONAL UNION OF OGONI STUDENTS
(NUOS INTL), USA
3116 W. DEVON AVE;
SUITE #204
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60659
www.nuos-ogoni.org ~ nuos.intl@gmail.com ~ 773.250.7004
August 5, 2007
Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice
U.S
Department of State
2201
C Street NW
Washington
DC 20520
Dear Secretary Rice:
Letter of Appreciation to the Government
and People of the United States of America for their Magnanimity to Ogoni People of Nigeria
The Ogoni people and Students at home and in Diaspora have been concerned about the troubling crisis in Nigeria’s
Niger Delta region. Ogoni Students in the United States therefore had a thoughtful discussion on the crisis situation on July
07, 2007 at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. The theme was “Resolving Nigeria’s Niger Delta Crisis”
A copy of the communiqué is attached.
A
point on the agenda was a discussion of the magnanimity shown to the Ogoni people of Nigeria by various peoples and governments
during the Shell Oil Company and Nigerian Government Invasion of Ogoni between 1993 and 1995. Your government and people were
amongst those who assisted Ogoni then and still assisting Ogoni now in resettlement.
On this note, we, the Ogoni Students under the auspices of the National Union of Ogoni Students
(NUOS INTL), USA, do on behalf of ourselves, Ogoni refugees and the entire Ogoni nationality write to thank the United States
government and people for the magnanimity shown to us from - food supplies to Ogonis who were refugees to resettlement of
Ogonis in the United States during the militarization of Ogoniland by Gen. Sani Abacha.
We are particularly exhilarated and grateful to you for saving our lives from the hands of
the Nigerian government and Shell Oil Company whose intent was to exterminate Ogoni after the barbaric, unjust and judicial
murder by hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni compatriots on November 10, 1995.
Your gesture served as a beckon of hope. We are glad those you resettled in America are now
citizens and are therefore contributing their quotas to the “American dream.” Your magnanimity has stimulated
educational developments amongst us. We have striven and taken advantage of the many educational and other opportunities in
America.
We would
also use this medium to appeal to the United States government to intervene in the crisis in the Nigerian Delta Region.
This could be approached by initiating a mission to Ogoni and the delta area. This is important because the crisis
is beyond an internal crisis as it involves Nigerian government, Shell Oil Company and the local Ogoni and Delta communities.
As you are aware, the struggle of the region is about self-determination which envelops environmental, economic, social and
political justice.
Second, we respectfully and humbly appeal
to the United States of America to resettle more Ogoni refugees numbering about 3000 in Republic of Benin, Sierra Leone, Cote
de Voire and other African Countries. They have genuine fears and have no means of livelihood and no homes to return to since
their total displacement by the Nigerian government between 1993 and 1996. We guarantee those resettled would demonstrate
good citizenship as we have since our resettlement in the United States.
Finally, it is our hope that your leading roles on global issues particularly human rights and the environment would
not slip by Nigeria and other nations that continually hold their citizens as hostages.
Once again, our heart is full of appreciation for your kind gesture towards Ogoni and its
environment. We and our progenies shall ever remain appreciative of your magnanimity.
Thanks for accepting this appreciation.
Yours Sincerely,
KorneBari Nwike
Austin Lemea
President
Secretary
Lambert Deebom
Director,
Publicity, Mobilization and logistics
Cc: New York Times
Chicago Tribune
Kansas City Star
