As MOSOP Adopts a Political Party for Ogoni Referendum to Regain Autonomy: Resources Control Now on Top of Agenda for Nigeria's 2011 General Elections

In Nigeria, for the first time in 50 years, a new political platform has evolved as a political party for all oil producing States, putting Resources Control as the top agenda on Nigeria's 2011 General Elections.

The Movement for Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) – an international environmental and human rights organization founded by late Ken Saro-Wiwa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with a national political party – the Hope Democratic Party (HDP); adopting Resources Control as a priority agenda for electing candidates into offices in the 2011 General Elections throughout Nigeria's oil producing states and local government areas.

The partnership agreement authorizes all Ogoni candidates to rally the electorate using the legitimate platform of HDP to canvass for support for Referendum on Ogoni Autonomy, which MOSOP has attached to Nigeria's 2011 General Elections under a Plan of Action announced on November 10, 2010 in Bori to reclaim all indigenous rights for the Ogoni.

MOSOP and HDP agreed to adopt within the purview of their joint cooperation and pursuit, the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, guaranteeing all indigenous peoples of the world, including the Ogoni people in Nigeria the right to the control of their natural resources and wealth.

The agreement recognizes that the Ogoni People in Nigeria are equal to other indigenous peoples and should enjoy the choices offered by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples; adopted by 143 United Nations Member States, including Nigeria on September 13, 2007 at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.

The Hope Democratic Party (HDP) resolved to reserve the 2011 Governorship Ticket of HDP in Rivers State to a candidate of Ogoni origin and that of the Deputy Governorship Candidate Ticket for another oil producing community in Rivers State. The plan is to be replicated in other oil producing states in Nigeria.

The MOSOP President / Spokesman - Hon. Goodluck Diigbo, the Chairman, Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Rivers State -Hon. Chief Hycienth Namadam and the National Chairman / Presidential Candidate Hope Democratic Party (HDP) - Hon. Chief Ambrose Owuru signed the memorandum on the 17th of December, 2010 in Port Harcourt.