Victor EzejaA group known as Niger Delta Congress (NDC) has called on Nigerian Government to tender apology to families of Ogoni 9 victims, noting that such would help to assuage their feelings about the November 10 1995 tragic incident.
The group made their position known in a statement issued on Wednesday as part of activities marking the 26th anniversary of the Ogoni killing.
The Federal Government had under the military regime of Late General Sani Abacha rounded up and executed Ken Saro-wiwa, an environment activist and eight others (Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine), over their protest against the operational activities of Shell Petroleum company which caused environmental pollution in Ogoni land in Rivers State.
The execution consequently sparked international outcry which attracted suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth and also forced Shell to discontinue its oil exploration activities in the area.
Every year, people of Ogoni observe a memorial which they christened ‘Martyrs’ Day’ in honour of the activists who were executed by hanging after being convicted by a military court on charges of involvement in the murder of five Ogoni chiefs.
The Chiefs were said to have been killed by irate youths in the area for allegedly supporting the government on issues that negatively affected the area and thereby betraying the people.
President Buhari had recently hinted on granting posthumous state pardon to Saro wiwa and others executed with him.
The Niger Delta group demanded that the Federal Government should exonerate the Ogoni nine victims of the execution and create a memorial in their name, if the government wants to be sincere in its intention over the matter.
The group also declared that events in recent times show that issues that led to the crisis which are environmental degradation and marginalization of people from the region, have not been addressed and they have continued to affect the people.
Part of the statement which was signed by the grpup spokespeeson, Barr Ovunda Eni, reads, “Not only have issues of environmental degradation and socio-political and socio-economic colonialism against ethnic nationalities of the region, which formed the core of the agitations of the Ogoni 9 continued to fester unaddressed.
“In recent time the Nigerian federation have gone further; passing a disrespectful Petroleum Industry Bill, sponsoring for passage an expropriative water resource bill and a bill to erase the “13% derivation” from the Nigerian Constitution. Additionally, the President himself mooted recently a denigrating “pardon” for the Ogoni 9 murdered by the Nigerian state.
“The NDC insists the Nigerian federation should tender an apology to the families of the Ogoni 9, the Ogoni people, and the Niger Delta in general if it is genuine about its intentions. In addition to this, the Ogoni 9 should be exonerated and a memorial setup in their name.
“As the Niger Delta remember these martyrs, it is important we remember the agitations for which they were killed for 26 years ago remain unachieved. It behoves on the people to not betray this sacrifice by acquiescing to the Nigerian federation and its dictates, but to build new bridges and formulate new strategies towards achieving our socio-economic and socio-political freedom as human beings
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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