{UAH} political activist Ken Saro-Wiwa’s story still draws attention
|
9:51 AM |
No comments |
Twenty-four years after his death at the hands of Nigeria's last military dictatorship, environmental and political activist Ken Saro-Wiwa's story still draws attention, mostly for the work he did to save the land and water of his fellow Ogoni people near the end of his life. Saro-Wiwa led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multinational petroleum industry, especially the Royal Dutch Shell company. He was also an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government, which he viewed as reluctant to enforce environmental regulations on the foreign petroleum companies operating in the area.
Saro-Wiwa, 54, was unfairly convicted with 8 others on 31 October by a tribunal in the southern port city of ordering the murders of four political rivals who were shot at a 1994 political rally. He insisted he was framed because of his opposition to Nigeria's military ruler, Sani Abacha, and the oil industry, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the country's foreign income. After several months in prison and an unjust trial where witnesses who had been bribed testified against him and his colleagues, Ken and eight other Ogoni leaders (Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine) were sentenced to death by hanging in 1995.
Several newspapers reported that only hours after the government upheld the death sentences, nine coffins were moved to the Port Harcourt prison. The junta apparently wanted the executions to take place immediately but later found that Port Harcourt, which had held no executions since Nigeria's independence from Britain in 1960, did not have the equipment for hangings.
Later, executioners were flown in from the northern Muslim city of Sokoto. They took rooms in a hotel and awaited their task. About 5am on the following day, Saro-Wiwa and his eight companions were roused from their cells at the army camp where they had been held since their convictions. The nine individuals were hanged on the 10th of November, 1995.
Their execution provoked international outrage and resulted in Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations for over three years. Many of the witnesses who implicated Ken Saro Wiwa and his colleagues during their trial subsequently recanted their evidence, stating that they had been bribed by the Nigerian government and had been offered money and jobs with Shell to give false testimony.
--
-- Saro-Wiwa, 54, was unfairly convicted with 8 others on 31 October by a tribunal in the southern port city of ordering the murders of four political rivals who were shot at a 1994 political rally. He insisted he was framed because of his opposition to Nigeria's military ruler, Sani Abacha, and the oil industry, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the country's foreign income. After several months in prison and an unjust trial where witnesses who had been bribed testified against him and his colleagues, Ken and eight other Ogoni leaders (Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine) were sentenced to death by hanging in 1995.
Several newspapers reported that only hours after the government upheld the death sentences, nine coffins were moved to the Port Harcourt prison. The junta apparently wanted the executions to take place immediately but later found that Port Harcourt, which had held no executions since Nigeria's independence from Britain in 1960, did not have the equipment for hangings.
Later, executioners were flown in from the northern Muslim city of Sokoto. They took rooms in a hotel and awaited their task. About 5am on the following day, Saro-Wiwa and his eight companions were roused from their cells at the army camp where they had been held since their convictions. The nine individuals were hanged on the 10th of November, 1995.
Their execution provoked international outrage and resulted in Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations for over three years. Many of the witnesses who implicated Ken Saro Wiwa and his colleagues during their trial subsequently recanted their evidence, stating that they had been bribed by the Nigerian government and had been offered money and jobs with Shell to give false testimony.
--
"War is nothing but a continuation of political intercourse, with a mixture of other means. Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest."
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ugandans-at-heart/CAKh9Gt-%2BLF%2BFkZXVOYJ2j-1b1Kk6OYSjoekFfUEKL%3DAzHhJ_3w%40mail.gmail.com.
0 comments:
Post a Comment