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

Waoh!
Just like yesterday!

You can kill the messenger, but can't stop the message-ken saro wiwa!

Sir Ken, u will alwaiz be remembered!

what a lovely message. the speech portrays sincerity of purpose in contrast to what we have today! activism has been adulterated with criminality.

so?? how datt one take call off strike??

The Niger Delta Region should name their new capital Saro Wiwa.

RIP SIR...so touching,we would definitely overcome our evil leaders soon,we shall bring dem down nd mete jungle justice on thieves like politicians who want to rob our posterity despite their incessant decadence of our generation.



so help us GOD.

Its so unfortunate that the leaders of the niger delta have not deemed it fit to immortalize this great man and a freedom fighter. Its so shameful that a president who hails from the same region has not provided any meaningful development to the niger deltans! Will Ken Saro Wiwa's struggle for freedom and emancipation be in vain?

Peace be unto him and those he left behind.

And his name keep resonating!

In painful memory of a Niger Delta freedom fighter and activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

anthoniosp: so?? how datt one take call off strike??

U r a retard!

Is it not part of what he said that brought the strike?
And even when they call off the strike, we still lack amidst our countless resources.
This is a wake up message.

ironically Sani Abacha, the man who killed you died shamefully less than 3 years after your death. Continue resting in peace Ken you were indeed a great man.

huptin: ironically Sani Abacha, the man who killed you died shamefully less than 3 years after your death. Continue resting in peace Ken you were indeed a great man.

A great man indeed? Ignorance is a disease, pls google how he makes his money from shell.

The recent miltants we have in the nider delta has lost focus.

And some people will come here to say that military rule is better than civilian rule.

Is the topic not misleading? Surely it's been 18 years and not 10. Ken Saro wiwa died on 10/11/1995. May his soul rest in peace

He will Always be Remembered.

.

Eya,i wish i knew d man buh since i don't,i would dedicate a joke on his behalf.

TEACHER: If a lion is chasing you,
what would you
do?
STUDENT: I'd jump over the wall.
TEACHER: If the lion jumps over as
well?
STUDENT: I'd climb a tree.
TEACHER: If the lion climbs the
tree?
STUDENT: I will jump into the lake
and swim.
TEACHER: If the lion also jumps
into the water and
swims after you?
STUDENT: Sir, are you on my side
or on the lion's?

Eyaaaah,u'll always be remembered

Ken Saro Wiwa "GOODMORNIN".
U r a man of no vision if not u wld have seen what Ojukwu saw and hidded to his warnin and advice. A lesson 4 the pple of Niger delta & Jonathan.i repeat, "Divide this country". On Aburi we stand.

"When victims refuse to be victims they are called terrorists".

Hon. Justice Suresh.

[size=16pt] Misleading front page topic. He died 1995 not 2003[/size]

Take the messanger but you can't take the message. Mr writer ken died ove 15 years ago not 10

Originality reveals fake.Indeed activism has been adultrated with crimiality

rusep:

A great man indeed? Ignorance is a disease, pls google how he makes his money from shell.

Whether you did not hear its a remembrance for Ken Saro-Wiwa or you are speaking from the afterlife, I can't tell.

Chill.Reread.Understand!

RIP Ken................Just like Martin Luther King Jr dreamt of a day when every race shall be treated equally in America and the country shall be led by a black man. Your dream and wish for Niger delta emancipation is in fruition Ken as Nigeria is now governed by Niger Delta son. You paid the big price of sacrificing your life, and you will always be remembered..............Continue to RIP Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro Wiwa


@OP he died on November 10 1995 which makes it 18 years ago.

Lilboots: Is the topic not misleading? Surely it's been 18 years and not 10. Ken Saro wiwa died on 10/11/1995. May his soul rest in peace

But the topic didn't say 10 years na, it says November 10

Nna. I don hear.