Resumption of Oil exploration in Ogoni will ignite violence, If .... Traditional ruler says

A traditional ruler, Mene Suanu Baridam has warned that any planned resumption of oil production in Ogoni without proper clean-up of oil impacted sites, will ignite violence in the area.

Mene Baridam who spoke with correspondent, decried the slow pace of implementing the clean up exercise and advised that relevant authorities should focus on remediating the oil impacted sites for now, than thinking of resuming oil production in the area.

While noting that Ogoni people were not against the resumption of oil production in the area, the traditional ruler who is also the chairman of Ogoni Council of Traditional Rulers, emphasized the people should be engaged in meaningful discussion before the commencement of oil exploration.

Mene Baridam attributed the steady progress of work on government projects in the area to the prevailing peaceful atmosphere brought about by the prayers of renowned men of God.