Ogoni People seeks justice for Saro-Wiwa after 25 years

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It is very difficult to tame the Ogoni spirit the way the Catholic Church did the Igbo spirit and Islam, the Hausa spirit. That quality has played out well for the Ogoni, who have refused to be cowed by imperialist forces. Though they very well embraced the Christian culture, the spirit of the Ogoni comes first whenever the Ogoni have to take a critical decision. However this might have slowed down their pace in some spheres of development. It is usually a price they have to pay to preserve cherished heritage.
Today the world marks the 25th memorial of the execution of nine Ogoni activists led by Ken Saro-wiwa, who stuck their necks out to demand the control of their natural resources, some form of political autonomy that would enable them take charge of their own affairs and the end to the pollution of their environment by Shell, the multinational oil mining company.
The Nigerian government under the infamous General Sani Abacha, with the collaboration of Shell and local collaborators like traditional rulers, lawyers, politicians and businessmen set them up, tried them and executed them on November 10, 1995 without an opportunity for appeal.
Curiously, the increase in the derivation formula in Nigeria and the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission, which were direct response to the demands of the Ogoni matters, were hijacked by the very people that bawled the killing Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues. Over a 20-year period, they turned the Commission and money from the derivation to corruption islands, where they stole freely and further destroyed oil producing communities, for which the Nigerian government has initiated a forensic audit.
The Ogoni owe themselves a duty. Get united and engage constructively. That is the only way the martyrdom of Saro-Wiwa and co will bear good fruits for them and indeed all oppressed communities in Nigeria.

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