…promises justice for the community
Hopes were raised last week as Ogonis marked 30 years of the judicial murder of international environmentalist and ethnic nationality defender, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others by the Nigerian government.
Following heart wrenching narration of the mindless massacre of the people of Umuechem by mobile police men drafted there by the Nigerian government in cahoots with Shell to silence a peaceful agitation for social amenities and the subsequent failure of the government to honour the recommendations of a panel of inquiry it set up over the sad incident, foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN has pledged to take up the matter and ensure compliance and justice for the people.
Umuechem is the second place where oil was discovered in commercial quantity after Oloibiri in Bayelsa State.
A delegation from the community comprising their paramount ruler, chiefs and community leaders who honoured the event that drew personalities and groups from across the Niger Delta and Nigeria had narrated how they were overrun, killed and everything in the community destroyed including their king, his three children, his father’s wives and community members right down to economic trees for challenging oil giant, Shell.
They disclosed that government issued them dud cheques which are still in their possession and called for assistance in pursuing justice by those helping Ogonis to achieve results.
In their statement, they said, “Our case is unique as that of the Ogoni. On October 30th 1990, we started the demand for social amenities and the government of the day and Shell came in their numbers and massacred the entire community. The massacre that took the life of His Royal Highness, the three children, the father’s wives and many other indigenes of the community.
“In spite of being the second place oil was discovered (after Oloibiri), if you go to that community, there is nothing to write home about. We don’t have water, we don’t have anything. There is no social amenity in the community no road, electricity and so many other things.
“The man we are celebrating today, Ken Saro-Wiwa, came to our village. He was one of the first people that visited our community and that is why Ogonis have always recognized Umuechem people.
“The government of the day set up a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Inko-Tariah on November 14 when we were massacred. It came up with a report. And in that report, they recommended that the government should build a factory to employ people, to address one of the concerns raised.
“There were several recommendations. We have dud checks even though they were given to some of our people. The government could not even honour them. We still have the dud cheques. None of their recommendations has this government obeyed, having even accepted in their own report, that they sent the military, the mobile police that came and massacred.
“Our own was not just destruction. It was complete massacre because with economic trees were totally destroyed. We don’t have anything and since then till now, we are just trying to put ourselves together. We have nobody. The government has not listened to us, and we call upon those that are making things happen in Ogoni to come to our aid.”
Responding to the plea while delivering his keynote address, Femi Falana said the time had come to stop the nonsense in the Niger Delta for which he would be assembling a formidable legal team to obtain justice and the restoration of dignity to the people.
He asked for a copy of the Commission of Inquiry Report and the dud checks to begin the journey of accountability that will see a new lease of life in the region, stressing that the region deserved development for yielding much to Nigeria.
“We are now in an era of intellectual battle. I have been looking for that report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. I am going to ensure that all the Commission recommendations are carried out.
“We will file a petition before the EFCC. It is a criminal offence to issue a dud cheques in Nigeria. The punishment is three years with no option of fine. So, if the government will want to settle with you by paying you your money or you want us to press charges for prosecution of whoever wrote that cheque, we have to resolve that very soon. So if you can, give me a copy of your report,” he demanded to a resounding applause from an audience eager to see justice over mindless environmental and human rights abuses in the Niger Delta.
According to him, helping secure social and environmental justice for the region would be the greatest tribute to the memory of Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was a fighter.
The memorial lecture held at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt to according to Comrade Celestine Akpobari, one of the conveners, was to celebrate the fearless, uncompromising and selfless sacrifices of Saro-Wiwa.
