Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 1995 execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni rights advocates by the Nigerian government, president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Fegalo Nsuke has again called for the exoneration of the executed human rights campaigners stating that the November 10, 1995 executions was the height of Nigeria’s cruelty against the Ogoni people.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, the MOSOP President said Ken Saro-Wiwa’s murder was the worst thing Nigeria did to the Ogoni people.
Nsuke said the executions did not only elongate the gap of a possible reconciliation between the parties to the conflict and the Nigerian oil industry but made the Ogoni people feel they were not wanted in Nigeria.
He regretted that Nigeria had to kill the Ogoni rights campaigners and some 4,000 others to crush a genuine and simple demand for fairness and justice.
The MOSOP leader called on the Nigerian government to exonerate the nine executed activists as a sign and willingness to reconcile with the Ogoni people and move towards the resolution of the prolonged conflicts. Nsuke said the exoneration will significantly heal the deep wounds inflicted on the Ogoni people by Shell and the Nigerian executions.
Nsuke further said this years memorial being the 25th anniversary of the executions is a great opportunity to move forward in the direction of a reconciliation noting that the exoneration of the nine will work in the best interest of the government, build goodwill, improve Nigeria’s image and also bring joy to the Ogoni people.
“We have always felt alienated within Nigeria, we have always been persecuted and marginalized.
The exoneration will send a welcome message, build goodwill for our country and extend a hand of reconciliation to the Ogoni people” Nsuke said.
The nine executed civil rights campaigners included Ken Saro-Wiwa, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Nordu Eawo, Dr Barinem Kiobel, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate and Saturday Doobee.
They were convicted by a military court and executed 10 days later on the orders of Nigeria’s federal government without any right to appeal the sentences.
