As the Ogoni people marked 31 years since the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the military government of Sani Abacha in 1995, stakeholders of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, called for renewed vigour to rebuild Ogoni and address decades of environmental degradation and conflict arising from oil exploration.
Other activists rejected the planned resumption of oil exploration without environmental justice and the creation of Bori State.
They spoke on the sidelines of activities marking the 31st anniversary of the execution of renowned environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others.
It has been 31 years since renowned environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni men from Rivers State were executed by the military government of Sani Abacha on November 10, 1995, following their campaign against environmental degradation, economic strangulation and political marginalisation of the Ogoni people.
At events marking this year’s anniversary, Ogoni stakeholders, youth groups and environmental rights activists from within and outside the country gathered in Ogoni in solidarity.
For stakeholders of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, the time has come for the Ogoni people to harness emerging opportunities to restore their communities.
Meanwhile, youth groups and environmental rights activists said the issues Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others died for remain unresolved. They rejected any planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland without environmental justice.
The youth leader outlined conditions for the resumption of oil exploration, including the completion of the environmental clean-up, the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the others, 45 per cent equity participation and the establishment of Bori State.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
