Today marks the 20th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders, hanged by the Nigerian state after they spoke out against the government and campaigned against Shell’s operations in Nigeria’s Ogoniland.

20 years gone women, men and children in the Delta Still drink, cook with and wash in polluted water, eat toxic fish and farm on contaminated land.

On November 10th, 1995 Mr. Saro-Wiwa was arrested, tried, and executed on the orders of military dictator Sani Abacha. His execution was met with international condemnation, Nigeria was expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations for three years.

Various activities have been lined up Today by various Activists to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the execution of environmental crusader and human right activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.

www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/yes-minister-it-human-rights-issue/shell-oil-nigeria-ken-saro-wiwa-niger-delta?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=20151110080013&utm_campaign=Amnesty


Read his full biography here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Saro-Wiwa

Rip man

RIP to the fallen heroes.

On November 10, 1995, a Nigerian military-appoin
ted tribunal executed nine Ogoni leaders. Kenule
Beeson Saro-Wiwa was among them. His final
statement, reprinted here, was never heard by the
tribunal.

Final statement from Nigeria.

My lord,

We all stand before history. I am a man of peace,
of ideas. Appalled by the denigrating poverty of
my people who live on a richly endowed land,
distressed by their political marginalization and
economic strangulation, angered by the
devastation of their land, their ultimate heritage,
anxious to preserve their right to life and to a
decent living, and determined to usher to this
country as a whole a fair and just democratic
system which protects everyone and every ethnic
group and gives us all a valid claim to human
civilization, I have devoted my intellectual and
material resources, my very life, to a cause in
which I have total belief and from which I cannot
be blackmailed or intimidated. I have no doubt at
all about the ultimate success of my cause, no
matter the trials and tribulations which I and
those who believe with me may encounter on our
journey. Neither imprisonment nor death can stop
our ultimate victory.

I repeat that we all stand before history. I and my
colleagues are not the only ones on trial. Shell is
here on trial and it is as well that it is represented
by counsel said to be holding a watching brief.
The Company has, indeed, ducked this particular
trial, but its day will surely come and the lessons
learnt here may prove useful to it for there is no
doubt in my mind that the ecological war that the
Company has waged in the Delta will be called to
question sooner than later and the crimes of that
war be duly punished. The crime of the
Company's dirty wars against the Ogoni people
will also be punished.

On trial also is the Nigerian nation, its present
rulers and those who assist them. Any nation
which can do to the weak and disadvantaged
what the Nigerian nation has done to the Ogoni,
loses a claim to independence and to freedom
from outside influence. I am not one of those who
shy away from protesting injustice and
oppression, arguing that they are expected in a
military regime. The military do not act alone.
They are supported by a gaggle of politicians,
lawyers, judges, academics and businessmen, all
of them hiding under the claim that they are only
doing their duty, men and women too afraid to
wash their pants of urine.


We all stand on trial, my lord, for by our actions
we have denigrated our Country and jeopardized
the future of our children. As we subscribe to the
sub-normal and accept double standards, as we
lie and cheat openly, as we protect injustice and
oppression, we empty our classrooms, denigrate
our hospitals, fill our stomachs with hunger and
elect to make ourselves the slaves of those who
ascribe to higher standards, pursue the truth, and
honour justice, freedom, and hard work.

I predict that the scene here will be played and replayed by generations yet unborn. Some have already cast themselves in the role of villains, some are tragic victims, some still have a chance to redeem themselves. The choice is for each individual.


I predict that the denoument of the riddle of the
Niger delta will soon come. The agenda is being
set at this trial. Whether the peaceful ways I have
favoured will prevail depends on what the
oppressor decides, what signals it sends out to
the waiting public.


In my innocence of the false charges I face Here,
in my utter conviction, I call upon the Ogoni
people, the peoples of the Niger delta, and the
oppressed ethnic minorities of Nigeria to stand up
now and fight fearlessly and peacefully for their
rights. History is on their side. God is on their
side. For the Holy Quran says in Sura 42, verse
41: "All those that fight when oppressed incur no
guilt, but Allah shall punish the oppressor." Come
the day.


Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa

Rip to him...

Please help a nairalander by liking her photo. https://m.facebook.com/faceofuniversitynigeria/photos/a.529952553810681.1073741828.507731919366078/593951960744073/?type=3&refid=18&__tn__=%2As

A great and courageous man in his own right. Had to taste the evil and mischievous Northern conspiracy late Ojukwu had warned him against decades earlier.

May his soul continue to rest as others continue to champion the cause.

dearpreye:
A great and courageous man in his own right. Had to taste the evil and mischievous Northern conspiracy late Ojukwu had warned him against decades earlier.

May his soul continue to rest as others continue to champion the cause.

“While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas."

Ken Saro- Wiwa's ideas, dreams and vision lives on
despite attempted suppression.

Let it continue to be a lesson to those who have refused to learn.

What a Man!!!!

Abacha is one of those people i'm certain I cannot meet in heaven! If I do.....Lemme just keep quiet

Meanwhile RIP Ken Saro Wiwa

The elders say:
"Death that will kill a juvenile dog doesn't allow it perceive the smell of feaces".

Have they learn anything yet? You be the judge!

His son now works for the same people (2006 till date).

jayfolarin:
What a Man!!!!

Abacha is one of those people i'm certain I cannot meet in heaven! If I do.....Lemme just keep quiet

Meanwhile RIP Ken Saro Wiwa

RIP Ken Saro Wiwa

Lalasticlala

Very sad that d minorities in d Niger delta still haven't learnt any lessons from his life and death.
Up till now,they still don't know who their enemies are.