The Ogoni Youth Development Initiative has expressed alarm over what it calls deliberate efforts to take over the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), an initiative designed to restore the polluted Ogoni environment.
During a media briefing captured in a video by SYMFONI TV, the group’s Global President, Imeabe Saviour Oscar, cautioned that the Ogoni people will strongly oppose any political manipulation of HYPREP. He reminded Nigerians that the program represents decades of sacrifice and agitation by the Ogoni community, who have endured massive ecological destruction caused by crude oil activities.
Oscar specifically accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of scheming to control HYPREP for his personal political agenda. He declared: “We will not allow Nyesom Wike to seize the project that belongs to our people or undermine the Ogoni struggle.”
According to him, the community firmly rejects such interference, stressing that the cleanup initiative must remain dedicated to addressing environmental challenges and not be diverted into a tool for power or influence.
He went further to urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Wike to order, warning that silence on the matter could cost the president the trust and support of Ogonis ahead of the 2027 elections. Oscar insisted that the people will not stand behind any leader who reduces their pain and sacrifice to mere political trade-offs.
“HYPREP was never designed to serve as a political instrument,” Oscar maintained. “It is a direct response to the suffering of our people, and we will resist any attempt to derail it.”
Hear him speak: “At this point the Youth of Ogoni said no to any hijacking or capturing of HYPREP project. Nyesom Wike should be informed that he has been able to capture Rivers state and as well been able to capture NNDC, and as well being able to capture other Government agencies in Rivers state, but we will not allow him to capture the people’s project, HYPREP project remains the people’s project.”
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