By Damilare Adeleye
President Bola Tinubu has bowed to pressure to reinstate Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
In a statement issued on Monday, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said the reinstatement was reached following a performance review of the HYPREP Project Coordinator and concluded that the Project Coordinator is fit to discharge his functions in accordance with the regulations guiding the execution of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
“By the directive of the President, the reinstatement of the HYPREP Project Coordinator takes immediate effect,” he added.
It was recalled that President Tinubu’s spokesman had, on Saturday, announced Professor Zabbey’s removal and appointment of Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi as the new Project Coordinator.
However, criticism trailed the development from stakeholders in Ogoni community.
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has earlier vehemently denounced the federal government’s decision to terminate the appointment of Professor Zabbey, an indigenous Ogoni.
MOSOP berated the move as politically motivated and a blatant disregard for the Ogoni people’s interests.
The organization also expressed outrage and disappointment at the federal government’s actions, which they believe undermine the progress made in addressing the environmental issues affecting the Ogoni region.
MOSOP President, Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, described the move as an affront to the Ogoni people, considering the availability of competent Ogoni individuals for the position.
He noted that MOSOP opposed the federal government’s perceived use of HYPREP as a political tool to settle politicians, rather than prioritizing the remediation of the Ogoni environment.
However, the organization demands that Professor Zabbey be allowed to serve out his term, citing HYPREP’s independence from federal government funding.
Also, the group issued a stern warning to the federal government, demanding the immediate reinstatement of Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as Coordinator of the HYPREP to complete his tenure, put an end to the use of HYPREP as a political tool to settle politicians and allow appointed HYPREP Coordinators to serve out their tenures to ensure stability and growth in Ogoni.
The organization warned that if a non-Ogoni is appointed to head HYPREP, they will not be allowed to enter Ogoni land.
It vowed to seal up the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt if the government insists on imposing a non-Ogoni leader on the people.