…Cautions ERA/FOEN
The Ogoni Youth Coalition Movement (OYCM), a youth body that monitors the co-ordination and implementation of development projects in Ogoni has risen in defence of Prof. Philip Shekwolo, the officer overseeing the project co-ordination of HYPREP against a publication credited to the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/FOEN) calling for Prof. Shekwolo’s sack.
The OYCM condemned and dismissed the call as baseless and politically motivated, stressing that the authors of the said publication woefully failed to give a proper assessment of the excellant performance of Prof. Philip Shekwolo on the Ogoni Clean-up programme within the short period he has been in office.
The Ogoni youth body said it is in better position to confront the HYPREP project co-ordinator or any other officer involved in the remediation programme of UNEP if they failed to live up to expectation.
In a strong worded statement by OYCM, and signed by its President-General, Sunny Bekanwah, the group warned ERA/FOEN to refrain forthwith, from such unnecessary attacks, positing that Prof. Shekwolo has so far demonstrated laudable competence in carrying out his duties.
OYCM recalled that the problem of portable drinking water which was one of the recommendations of UNEP and which the previous HYPREP administration could not provide was immediately solved by Prof. Shekwolo on assumption of office.
The Ogoni youth coalition assured that all remediation sites across the four local government areas of Ogoni are now in their natural state and preparations, ongoing to mobilize contractors to sites.
