President Tinubu reinstates Zabbey as HYPREP Coordinator.
Professor Nenibarini Zabbey has been reinstated by President Bola Tinubu as Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
Following a performance review of the HYPREP Project Coordinator, the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajori Ngelale, on Monday said the president reached the decision concluding he is fit to discharge his functions following regulations guiding the execution of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
Said another way, “the reinstatement of the HYPREP Project Coordinator takes immediate effect under presidential direction.”
The development follows the Movement for The Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and some young leaders in Ogoni, Rivers State, who offered the Federal Government 24 hours to restore Zabbey.
MOSOP said in a statement that Prof. Zabbey, a non-partisan Ogoni, is highly competent and committed to the post, which centres on the environmental repair of Ogoni land based on the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report.
The group demanded the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Zabbey to complete his tenure, so ensuring that HYPREP is not used to settle political scores and enable appointed HYPREP Coordinators to serve their full terms for stability and development in Ogoni. MOSOP President Prof. Olu Wai-Oguso signed the statement.
Should a non-Ogoni be appointed as HYPREP Coordinator, MOSOP vowed to bar the new appointment from visiting Ogoni and padlock the HYPREP headquarters in Port-Harcourt.
According to Mosop, HYPREP has to serve the Ogoni people rather than political objectives.
Since its announcement, the leadership shift in HYPREP has drawn continuing responses.
Published on Saturday, July 13, a press statement issued by Ngelale revealed the acceptance of Dr. Olufemi Adekambi as the new HYPREP coordinator.
Among others, delegates from the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Ogoni Youths Federation, Ogoni Students Association Worldwide, and the Association of Ogoni Martyrs voiced their discontent. They contend that Ogoni has suitable persons to oversee the project, which the Ogoni people started by means of their labour and sacrifices free from government support.
The young leaders argued that they would have to close all project sites if the presidency did not restore Prof. Zabbey, whom they felt was performing satisfactorially.
Emphasising their dedication to oppose the resuming of Dr. Olufemi Adekambi, the newly appointed HYPREP Project Coordinator, who is set to formally start on Monday after his appointment began on Saturday, July 13, Brinuazer Emmanuel, NYCOP President, and Daniel Karakpon, National President of Ogoni Students Worldwide, stress