KEN SARO-WIWA AND OGONI 8
These other patriots must not go the same way: Beko Ransome- Kuti, Shehu Sani, Kokori, Ogoni 19, George Mbah, Chris Anyawu, Ben Charles-Obi, Kunle-Ajibade. Fight for their freedom
November 10, 1996 marks the first anniversary of the cruel hanging (murder) of prolific writer, environmental campaigner and minority rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others on a trumped-up charge by the Abacha military dictatorship.
A year after the savage state murder the junta has not been able to convince any right thinking person that Ken and the eight other martyrs ever had anything to do with the killings of the four pro-dictatorship chiefs for which they were charged. Every attempt made by the murderous regime to justify the callous murder has further proved the innocence of Ken and others. The truth has remained constant, that the 'Ogoni 9' were murdered to oil the wheels of repression and pave way for continued oil-flow in spite of the evironmental degradation that pervades Ogoniland which informed MOSOP agitations in the first place.
'Ogoni 9' and international conspiracy
The whole world went in fury with the murder of Ken Saro- Wiwa and his colleagues. The international community rolled out various sanctions against the Abacha junta. But less than a year after, many sections of the international community have reconciled with tyranny. Leading the international infamy was the United Nation's General Secretary, Boutrous Ghali who sent an (un)fact-finding mission to Nigeria to provide an escape route for the murderers of Ogoni 9. The Commonwealth has followed suit through its various sommersaults and blowing hot and cold over the Nigerian crisis. From a total rejection of the regime's dubious transition programme, they are now endorsng the transition ruse meant only to perpetuate Abacha's dictatorship. It's like they have sentenced the Nigerian people to state terrorism, persecution and political assasination till October 1998 to start with, and possibly till 2010 if the Nigerian people did not rise to assert their humanity.
Nigerian people, you are on your own
It is now evidently clear that only Nigerians can remove this tyranny. That the international community has continued to treat the murderers of Ken and suspects in Kudirat Abiola's assasination with kid gloves is a testimony to the fact that nobody is coming from anywhere to liberate Nigeria.
The capitulation of the lilly-livered politicians who are now giving a vestige of credibility to an incredible transition coupled with the official terror being unleashed on the Nation may portend despair in the immediate. But history has taught us that no dictatorship has ever outlived the people, the chalice will be full and the Abacha junta will collapse. But Nigerians must not just wish that to happen, they must cause it.
Things to do
November 10, 1996 must be observed nationwide as a National mourning day. Nigerians must wear black dresses to remember and draw inspirations from the fighting spirit of Ken Saro- Wiwa and eight others.
Demands
Last updated 16.01.97