Story by: Adesoji Omosebi
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KEN SARO-WIWA: I can still remember vividly how the most wicked, deaf and dumb military dictator Nigeria has ever had, late General Sanni Abacha stood his grounds to make sure that late Ken Saro-Wiwa was mowed down along with eight others in their cold blood despite international plea for clemency.
He was murdered along with eight others in spite of International outcry 28 years ago on November 10, 1995.
Ken Saro-Wiwa was a Human Right Activist, a Writer, a Poet, Producer of Basil & Co, a very popular TV soap opera with a slogan;
“if you want to be a millionaire think like a millionaire, A non-violent Environmental Activist.
November 10, 1995 was a day never to be forgotten easily. ” Like play, like play” Ken Saro-Wiwa and his gang were tried and found guilty of a crime he was not present when it was committed by a kangaroo Military Tribunal set up by General Sanni Abacha.
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Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a defence Lawyer to the Ogoni 9 tried all he could to set them free all to no avail. Gani was frustrated out of the case by the military junta.
All plea by local and International Communities fell on deaf ears of Abacha until all Ogoni nine were executed by hanging.
I could remember that Ken uttered a statement on his way to the Golgotha that;
“…which kin country be dis?”
Ken Saro-Wiwa Executed for Criticizing his land pollution by Multinational Oil companies in Nigeria.
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In the real sense of it, a country where the just will be executed at the expense of looters and oppressors. A country where the just suffers the sins of the guilt. A country where merit is alien. A country where mediocrity is exalted.
It took five attempts to hang Ken Saro-Wiwa before the Nigerian writer spoke his last words and his body went limp. “Lord take my soul, but the struggle continues,” were the anti-government activist’s final words before he died on Friday morning, blindfolded and dangling from a rope.
According to the information gathered, the hangmen made four attempts before finally killing Saro-Wiwa on the fifth one. At one point Saro- Wiwa asked:
“Why are you people treating me like this? Which kind country be dis?”
The eight others that were executed along with Ken are as follows: Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
SOJ WORLDWIDE remembered Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight colleagues executed for fighting for their rights in their own land of birth in Ogoni, South-South of Nigeria. It was very painful we lost these bright non-violent freedom fighters to dark goggled dictator, General Sani Abacha.
We pay tribute to you because we know you fought a just fight to free your people who were dehumanised, oppressed and depressed in their own fatherland.
This day will ever be remembered now and always as a day, the innocent blood were shed.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This special tribute for the Ogoni 9 freedom fighters championed by Ken Saro-Wiwa was written by the Editor-in-Chief, SOJ WORLDWIDE ONLINE NEWS, Adesoji OMOSEBI to celebrate the 28th anniversary of their senseless killings by a dark goggled, General Sani Abacha.
Ken died a hero.
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