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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 (89847 Views)
Ken Saro-Wiwa And 8 Other Ogonis Were Executed On 10th November, 1995 / Abacha, Maryam Abacha, Al-mustapha And Buhari In 1995 / Late Gen. Bamidele's Last Words Before Buhari Killed Him. (2) (3) (4)
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Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by nairaarea: 4:50am On Nov 10, 2014 |
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 Those where his last words 186 Likes 37 Shares
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Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Nobody: 4:59am On Nov 10, 2014 |
OP he said all this plenty things , I doubt 73 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by nairaarea: 5:03am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Yes he did. What is making you to doubt? 4 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by nairaarea: 5:21am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Today what Ogoni's yearn for is the full implementation of the UNEP report/ clean up of Ogoni land and An Ogoni governor in Rivers state 5 Likes 1 Share
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Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by kilokeys(m): 5:26am On Nov 10, 2014 |
hmm.. i am touched. so we had such intelligence in our history.. i am sure d last words of most of our politicians today would be, Judge, abeg no kill me. i get plenty land and money.. please, ther is God o.. take all my money.. spare my life.. i didnt squander more than abacha na.. haba mana.. ( then kneels, cries) cowards.. that have to read off every manifesto from pieces of paper prepared by a secretary. 173 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by kokoA(m): 5:39am On Nov 10, 2014 |
It's to long. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by otbliz(m): 5:44am On Nov 10, 2014 |
kokoA:brother i agree 2 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by nairaarea: 5:47am On Nov 10, 2014 |
UNEP Ogoniland Oil Assessment Reveals Extent of Environmental Contamination and Threats to Human Health Drinking Water Pollution in Some Places So Serious Immediate Emergency Action Needed Full Environmental Restoration May Take Up to 30 Years with Calls for an Initial US$1 Billion Fund to Kick-Start Clean-Up Abuja, 4 August 2011 – The environmental restoration of Ogoniland could prove to be the world’s most wide-ranging and long term oil clean-up exercise ever undertaken if contaminated drinking water, land, creeks and important ecosystems such as mangroves are to be brought back to full, productive health. A major new independent scientific assessment, carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), shows that pollution from over 50 years of oil operations in the region has penetrated further and deeper than many may have supposed. The assessment has been unprecedented. Over a 14-month period, the UNEP team examined more than 200 locations, surveyed 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way, reviewed more than 5,000 medical records and engaged over 23,000 people at local community meetings. Detailed soil and groundwater contamination investigations were conducted at 69 sites, which ranged in size from 1,300 square metres (Barabeedom-K.dere, Gokana local government area (LGA) to 79 hectares (Ajeokpori-Akpajo, Eleme LGA). Altogether more than 4,000 samples were analyzed, including water taken from 142 groundwater monitoring wells drilled specifically for the study and soil extracted from 780 boreholes. Key Findings Some areas, which appear unaffected at the surface, are in reality severely contaminated underground and action to protect human health and reduce the risks to affected communities should occur without delay says UNEP’s Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland. In at least 10 Ogoni communities where drinking water is contaminated with high levels of hydrocarbons, public health is seriously threatened, according to the assessment that was released today. In one community, at Nisisioken Ogale, in western Ogoniland, families are drinking water from wells that is contaminated with benzene-- a known carcinogen--at levels over 900 times above World Health Organization guidelines. The site is close to a Nigerian National Petroleum Company pipeline. UNEP scientists found an 8 cm layer of refined oil floating on the groundwater which serves the wells. This was reportedly linked to an oil spill which occurred more than six years ago. While the report provides clear operational recommendations for addressing the widespread oil pollution across Ogoniland, UNEP recommends that the contamination in Nisisioken Ogale warrants emergency action ahead of all other remediation efforts. While some on-the-ground results could be immediate, overall the report estimates that countering and cleaning up the pollution and catalyzing a sustainable recovery of Ogoniland could take 25 to 30 years. This work will require the deployment of modern technology to clean up contaminated land and water, improved environmental monitoring and regulation and collaborative action between the government, the Ogoni people and the oil industry. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said the report provided the scientific basis on which a long overdue and concerted environmental restoration of Ogoniland, a kingdom in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, can begin. ―The oil industry has been a key sector of the Nigerian economy for over 50 years, but many Nigerians have paid a high price, as this assessment underlines,‖ he said. ―It is UNEP’s hope that the findings can break the decades of deadlock in the region and provide the foundation upon which trust can be built and action undertaken to remedy the multiple health and sustainable development issues facing people in Ogoniland. In addition it offers a blueprint for how the oil industry—and public regulatory authorities-- might operate more responsibly in Africa and beyond at a time of increasing production and exploration across many parts of the Continent,‖ said Mr Steiner. ―The clean-up of Ogoniland will not only address a tragic legacy but also represents a major ecological restoration enterprise with potentially multiple positive effects ranging from bringing the various stakeholders together in a single concerted cause to achieving lasting improvements for the Ogoni people,‖ said the UNEP Executive Director. UNEP today presented its report to the President of Nigeria, The Hon Goodluck Jonathan, in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Among its other findings are:- Control and maintenance of oilfield infrastructure in Ogoniland has been and remains inadequate: the Shell Petroleum Development Company’s own procedures have not been applied, creating public health and safety issues. The impact of oil on mangrove vegetation has been disastrous. Oil pollution in many intertidal creeks has left mangroves—nurseries for fish and natural pollution filters-- denuded of leaves and stems with roots coated in a layer of bitumen-type substance sometimes one centimetre or more thick. The five highest concentrations of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons detected in groundwater exceed 1 million micrograms per litre (µg/l) – compared to the Nigerian standard for groundwater of 600 µg/l. When an oil spill occurs on land, fires often break out, killing vegetation and creating a crust over the land, making remediation or revegetation difficult. At some sites, a crust of ash and tar has been in place for several decades. The surface water throughout the creeks in and surrounding Ogoniland contain hydrocarbons. Floating layers of oil vary from thick black oil to thin sheens. Despite community concerns, the results show that fish consumption in Ogoniland, either of those caught locally or purchased from markets, was not posing a health risk. The report says that fish tend to leave polluted areas in search of cleaner water. However, the fisheries sector is suffering due to the destruction of fish habitat and highly persistent contamination of many creeks. Where entrepreneurs have established fish farms for example their businesses have been ruined by an ―ever-present‖ layer of floating oil. The Ogoni community is exposed to hydrocarbons every day through multiple routes. While the impact of individual contaminated land sites tends to be localized, air pollution related to oil industry operations is all pervasive and affecting the quality of life of close to one million people. Artisanal refining (a practice whereby crude oil illegally obtained from oil industry operations is refined in primitive stills), is endangering lives and ultimately causing pockets of environmental devastation in Ogoniland and neighbouring areas. Remote sensing revealed that in Bodo West, in Bonny LGA, an increase in artisanal refining between 2007 and 2011 has been accompanied by a 10% loss of healthy mangrove cover – or over 307,380 square metres. Remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) – a way of boosting the ability of naturally-occuring microbes to breakdown oil and so far the only remediation method observed by UNEP in Ogoniland – has not proven to be effective. Currently, SPDC applies this technique on the land surface layer only, based on the assumption that given the kind of oil concerned, factors such as temperature and an underlying layer of clay, hydrocarbons will not move deeper. However, in 49 cases UNEP observed hydrocarbons in soil at depths of at least 5 m. Next Steps Recommendations Through a combination of approaches, individual contaminated land areas in Ogoniland can be cleaned up within five years, while the restoration of heavily-impacted mangrove stands and swamplands will take up to 30 years. However, according to the report, all sources of ongoing contamination must be brought to an end before the clean-up of the creeks, sediments and mangroves can begin. The report recommends establishing three new institutions in Nigeria to support a comprehensive environmental restoration exercise. A proposed Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority would oversee implementation of the study’s recommendations and should be set up during a Transition Phase which UNEP suggests should begin as soon as possible. The Authority’s activities should be funded by an Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland, to be set up with an initial capital injection of US$1 billion contributed by the oil industry and the government, to cover the first five years of the clean-up project. A recommended Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre, to be built in Ogoniland and supported by potentially hundreds of mini treatment centres, would treat contaminated soil and provide hundreds of job opportunities. The report also recommends creating a Centre of Excellence in Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland to promote learning and benefit other communities impacted by oil contamination in the Niger Delta and elsewhere in the world. Reforms of environmental government regulation, monitoring and enforcement, and improved practices by the oil industry are also recommended in the report. 10 Likes 3 Shares
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Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by nairaarea: 5:48am On Nov 10, 2014 |
kokoA: Lazy generation 82 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by sol2galay: 5:54am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Goodmorning Ken Saro Wiwa! Let no one qoute me. 30 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Nobody: 6:12am On Nov 10, 2014 |
sol2galay:I quote you 23 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by dridowu: 6:13am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Good Morning Nigerians God Bless Our Hustle 3 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Ymodulus: 6:24am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Ken Saro wiwa is an epitome example of how a country and its government should not let a foreign company exploit them all in the name of Oil, money. Its a trajectory case of an economic prophet seeing the harm a non indeginous company can wreck on indigenes of the location where the company So-Sits. While I never knew Ken saro wiwa. Having x-rayed his non-violent campaign and struggle for light for his people and the way he his not been imortalised. I am soo worried and had to ask myself several questions about PDP , APC, Nigerian Masses 1. Has Jonathan read about Ken's history? 2. If yes then why has he not used this opportunity to effect change and actualize that goal Ken Saro Wiwa wanted. Why has he failed to realized that this is the time he needs to look beyond Umbrellized covering, so as to do something great for his nation 3. Why has the People Democratic Party not made shell face up for its crimes? Even the united state in 2009 made shell faced for the court for ken saro wiwa killings Looking at ken saro wiwa struggle and the way he was killed, coupled with the fact that the Nigerian leaders had Saro Wiwa and his movement sentenced to death without option of Appeal all for money, I am troubled that A PROGRESSIVE WILL NEVER RULE THIS NATION KEN SARO WIWA was a true progressive like GENERAL MUHAMMAD BUHARI. Ken was recognized, valued and cherished by the international community at larged, same way General Muhammad Buhari, Tinubu, Fashola have been worshipped and valued by the international communities. For a country whose oil resources could have lead it to become one of the wealthiest in Africa, the Niger Delta region remains an impoverished conflict zone and is still dominated by the transnational oil companies which continue to pollute the area’s water and resources. The memory and the courageous efforts of Ken Saro-Wiwa would live on. I know if he was alive he would have been a member of the All Progressive Congress. Sir Ken, i would like to tell you that even at your death you are already a member. Saro wiwa I love you. But the APC Progressives love you most. Fellow Nairalanders, the story of ken saro wiwa is a valid reason as to why we need to vote APC to power come 2015. Let me live you with the modified words of a heroic progressive by name Chinua Nkelom Achebe [size=18pt]"There was a progressive" [/size] - Albert Chinualumogu Achebe. Ymodulus 64 Likes 9 Shares |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by mickyarams: 6:28am On Nov 10, 2014 |
May God destroy all those theiving bastards that call themselves leaders. 7 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Nobody: 6:31am On Nov 10, 2014 |
For a man who's headquarters operated from a house which was seized and stolen from the igbo after the civil war (chief obi) in portharcourt to have cried about injustice before being executed is a clear reflection of the fact that Nigeria still wallows in a state of colossal parakpoism, kangaroo chauvinism, nepotism and tribalism. ..may his soul remain where it belongs...igbo hater crying for justice 64 Likes 7 Shares |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by OrlandoOwoh(m): 6:34am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Akien akien pia Ogoni akien . . . 1 Like |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Nobody: 6:38am On Nov 10, 2014 |
nairaarea:tnx have been searching for ds repport 4sometime now. 4 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by arsetalks(m): 6:47am On Nov 10, 2014 |
May his soul rest in peace. I am sure he will be pained that someone from his region finally became president and we are worst for it. Posterity shall judge us all. 12 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Ucheosefoh(m): 7:17am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Ymodulus:smh tag along, progressive indeed you guys always look for opportunity to campaign for buhari even to the extend of editing a article to suit your propaganda. 38 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Nobody: 7:27am On Nov 10, 2014 |
2nd October 1995 - ITN News [size=18pt]Prosecution witnesses against Ken Saro Wiwa, claims to have been bribed by Shell; Abacha announces he will remain in power for another 3years(video clip) [/size] http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/1995/10/02/BSP021095032/?s=nigeria&st=2&pn=81&sortBy=date [size=18pt]31st Oct 1995 NIGERIA: OGONI MINORITY RIGHTS LEADER KEN SARO-WIWA APPEALS TO JUDGE AT MURDER TRIAL[/size] Nigeria faced a barrage of international condemnation after special court sessions on Monday and Tuesday (October 30-31) passed death sentences on nine activists, including campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa. There were calls for sanctions against Nigeria after the sentences were passed. The activists were tried for the murders in May 1994 of four pro-government leaders in the oil-producing Ogoniland, which has been wracked by violence caused largely by a campaign against environmental pollution from oil exploitation. Saro-Wiwa's son, Ken Wiwa, said the verdict was an outrage and demonstrated a "blatant disregard for justice, for human rights and for world opinion". British opposition parties called for sanctions against Nigeria, which became independent from Britain in 1960. Protests came from the Commonwealth group, whose summit in New Zealand in two weeks is due to discuss democracy in military-ruled Nigeria. Saro-Wiwa, a prominent author and president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni Peoples (MOSOP), was sentenced with three others on Tuesday for inciting the murders. Five MOSOP associates were sentenced to death on Monday for complicity. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by fr3do(m): 8:39am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Ymodulus: why must you spoil the memory of a good man like Saro-Wiwa by comparing him with that expired bigoted former dictator? Its really disheartening that our leaders since oil discovery let foreign companies mess up our land. 28 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Ymodulus: 8:59am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Ucheosefoh: My comment were mine and not copied from any source. And if you mean twisting the article to suit my propaganda then i strongly refute your claims as the article clearly talks about the exemplary life of a PROGRESSIVE. 4 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by PROCTOR: 9:01am On Nov 10, 2014 |
Those words are just touching..A man of such intellect was killed for fighting for justice 4 Likes |
Re: Ken Saro Wiwa's Last Words Before His Execution On 10 Nov. 1995 by Ymodulus: 9:02am On Nov 10, 2014 |
fr3do: I never did that rather I went further to immortalize saro wiwa. And give him the accolades he deserves.
I agree with you. But do not say OUR LEADERS, rather say the UMBRELLA LEADERS. 7 Likes |
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