Uyi Ojo Is Our Executive Director -ERA Leaders —Sack Nnimmo Bassey As BOT Chair

The General Assembly commends the resolution of the Senate leadership over the recent commitment to break the nearly 20 years jinx that has bedeviled the Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly.

It however condemned in strong terms the Federal Government’s recent hike in the fuel pump price, increase in electricity tariff and Value Added Tax (VAT) that have resulted in increasing food prices, increase in transportation fares, and other communities. 

It also noted the state of environmental degradation in Nigeria, the slow pace of work in the clean-up of Ogoniland by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), and the non-clean-up of the entire Niger Delta.

The meeting stressed the relevance of energy transition to wean Nigeria’s economy from oil dependence to a post petroleum economy to address climate change and usher in a new model of energy democracy.

It also address some lingering crisis among the Trustees and Management Team of ERA/FoEN prior to 2013 and onwards when Godwin Ojo took over from Nnimmo Bassey.  Nnimmo is currently the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).

Kindly be informed that the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FOEN) has three trustees who are also Co-founders of the Organization. They are:

1.            Nnimmo Bassey

2.            Godwin Ojo

3.            Oronto Douglas (now deceased).

The organization was founded in 1993 for the protection of the environment and the democratization of development.

The main cause of the crisis is the conflict of interest by Nnimmo Bassey’s leadership style, remaining in control and direct involvement in the day to day management of the organization which is primarily the role of the executive council headed by the current Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo. Nnimmo Bassey occupied the dual position as ERA/FoEN Executive Director and “Chairman of the Board” since inception in 1993 to 2013, and remained as “Chairman of the Board” for over 27 years. He combines these as the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF); an organization which he established for the purpose of sabotaging the progress of Environmental Rights Development Foundation (also known as ERA/FoEN). The conflict of interest has caused rivalry and entrenched conflicts that is inimical to the smooth running of the Environmental Rights Development Foundation (also known as ERA/FoEN).

The General Assembly resolved as follow:

1.            That Nnimmo Bassey has been removed as Trustee and “Chairman of the Board” and is hereby removed and every step of illegality taken by him to undermine the interest of Environmental Rights Development Foundation (ERA/FoEN) is declared null and void.

2.            That the ERA/FoEN offices in Lagos and Abuja under the control of Nnimmo Bassey be shut down with immediate effect until further directive from Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, the Executive Director.

3.            The General Assembly passed a vote of confidence on the Executive Director, Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo as a leading environmental and human rights advocate, community and grassroots mobiliser, and urged him not to be detracted by anyone in the discharge of his duties. The General Assembly in this general meeting reaffirmed his position as Executive Director.

4.            That going by the provisions of section 834(1) of the Companies and Aliied Matters Act 2020, the general assembly in this general meeting has vetted and approved the nomination and appointment of the following persons as trustees of Environmental Rights Development Foundation: Chief Saint Emma Pii (Chairman), Godwin Uyi Ojo (Secretary), Mike Karikpo (Member) and Jennifer Ero (Member).

5.            That Chima Williams who is parading himself as Acting Executive Director of ERA, be subjected to disciplinary actions within the ambit of the law.

6.            That the public should take note that Chima Williams is not the Executive Director of ERA and as such, no one should transact business with him.

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