21st Anniversary: Rivers PDP commiserates with Ogoni People Over Killing Of Saro Wiwa, Eight Others

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt.

As the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality observed the 21st anniversary of the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa, environmental rights activist and playwright alongside eight others, the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has commiserated with them, urging them not to allow the sacrifice of the departed to be in vain.

Ken Saro Wiwa and his eight kinsmen now described as Ogoni nine martyrs were murdered by hanging on November 10, 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha after they were found guilty of masterminding the gruesome killing of four Ogoni chiefs who were believed to be holding a pro-government meeting on May 21, 1994.

In a press statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the PDP Chairman who described the nine slain Ogonis as martyrs of their struggle for emancipation and environmental justice, stated that the sacrifices of the Ogoni leaders, including the renowned environmental crusader, Ken Saro-Wiwa, as supreme.

The PDP Chairman commended the spirit behind the anniversary, which he noted was also meant to honour and appreciate the huge and ultimate contributions of other unsung heroes of the globally acknowledged struggle.

While acknowledging the successes of the Ogoni struggle, the Chairman stated that the Ogoni nationality has been placed on the conscience map of the world, not only as an indigenous minority nation, but as a metaphor for global struggle for human rights and environmental justice.

He particularly commended leaders of the Ogoni Movement who had championed the cause since after the death of the fallen heroes, charging the present leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, not to lose focus of the establishing principles and philosophy of the struggle, but to be more committed and resolute in the globally applauded peaceful and non violent struggle for equity, justice, and development.

The PDP, he said, would continue to identify with the Ogoni people and their just cause and also reiterated his call on them to sustain their unalloyed support for the government of the State under Governor Nyesom Wike, “who will not renege on the fulfillment of his campaign promises, but will even do more to the people of Ogoni as well as other ethnic nationalities in the State.

“We commend our dear Ogoni people for their peaceful and successful 21st anniversary of martyrs of their struggle for justice,” Chief Obuah said.