A Coalition of activists from Ogoni land has said that 28 years after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the military government of late General Sani Abacha over his agitation for the people of Ogoni land, the federal government is yet to meet any of their demands
Addressing journalists in Abuja, AkpoBari Celestine, the Team Leader of the Peoples Advancement Centre, said the injustice that led to Ken Saro-Wiwa’s struggle continues to fester
He urged President Bola Tinubu to exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists and order an immediate review of the judgement that was given by the Military Tribunal in 1995 that sentenced them to death.
He said, “It should be recalled that when Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, only June 12 and the Ogoni issue were on the front burner.
As a matter of direct state policy, issues concerning June 12 and the Yorubas have been properly settled, but sadly, one item on the legitimate demands list of the Ogoni people has not been acceded to.”
He also urged the President to urgently and passionately look into the demands of the Ogoni people as enshrined in the Ogoni Bill of Rights with a view to addressing them.
He said this includes the issue of the political marginalisation of the Ogoni people. It will interest Mr President that no Ogoni has been Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker, or Chief Judge since the creation of Rivers State on May 27, 1967.
Speaking further, he said: “That Mr President considers the full implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni by directing SHELL to immediately decommission in line with the recommendations of UNEP.
“Mr President should also approve adequate compensation to Ogoni farmers and fishermen who lost their means of livelihood;
“Mr President should direct immediate release of the confiscated non-motorized Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus, which is being held by the Nigerian Customs in spite of recommendations of the National Assembly on July 19, 2016, and the favourable ruling of a Court of Competent Jurisdiction since April 20, 2023;
“On the ongoing environmental remediation in Ogoni, you cannot run the tap and mop your floor at the same time.
The government should concentrate on the clean-up of Ogoni and other Niger Delta states and stop new oil exploration in the region.
The Niger Delta has contributed a lot to the development of Nigeria; it is time Nigeria took care of the Niger Delta people and the environment.
“It is on record that the government of Nigeria has yet to release one kobo in contribution to the Ogoni clean-up. The government should pay up and immediately release money to HYPREP to commence an environmental audit of other polluted sites in the Niger Delta.”
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