THE GUARDIAN (LAGOS) WRITES ON THE OGONI-9,ETC >> >>LAGOS GUARDIAN >>Friday, July 16, 1999 >> >>Ogoni Nine: Crown in death for a life of sacrifice >> >>In 1995, nine prominent Ogoni activists, including playwright, Ken Saro >>Wiwa, were hanged >>by the infamous regime of Late General Sani Abacha in what was termed >>by critics as >>"judicial murder". Four years after, following a fervent clamour and >>persistent demand from >>a people still deeply wracked by the torments of losing their heroes, >>the "Ogoni-nine" were >>finally re-united with a land they had given their all even unto death. >>IBIBA DON-PEDRO >>captures the final rites of passage for the native sons whose >>sacrifices marked a watershed >>in the Ogonis struggle for self-assertion and dignity.` >> >>THE Ogonis had come out that wet Friday morning to catch a glimpse of >>"the spirit of Ogoni" >>or at least the nearest thing to it. >> >>Owens Monday Wiwa, medical doctor and younger brother to late Ken >>Saro-Wiwa had arrived the >>Omagwa International Airport outside Port Harcourt recently into the >>passionate embrace of >>the Ogonis most of whom strained to get a feel of him. It was as though >>in that gesture, >>they would be able to recapture something precious, long lost. >> >>Not only the Ogonis were caught in the heady feeling of the moment, >>there were also >>representatives of the Isoko National Youths Movement, Ijaw youths from >>the supreme Egbesu >>Assembly SEA, looking virile and confident in their black T-Shirts over >>black jeans >>trousers, muscles rippling with passion as they danced their Ogele. >> >>From all over the Niger Delta they came - Ikweres, Etches, groups from >>Umuechem and others >>brought together by the Ogonis, with support from the Pan Niger Delta >>Movement Chikoko, to >>welcome Owens Wiwa whose return to Rivers State coincided with the >>celebration of the >>International Day of Action Against Corporate Rule and Imperialism, >>issues at the heart of >>the agitation in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta. >> >>Surveying the jubilant crowd of Ogoni and their well wishers, chairman >>of the southern >>minorities movement, (SMM) and one-time Petroleum Minister, Dr. Mofia >>Akobo observed: >>"Really, no one can destroy a mass struggle. The Ogonis were begining >>to lose the spirit of >>struggle, of sweat, of blood but it is now coming back." >> >>The return of Owens Wiwa to Ogoniland with the letter of approval for >>the release of the >>remains of the Ogoni 9 killed by the Abacha government in 1995, >>symbolises a triumph for >>the Ogonis in their struggle for economic, environmental and social >>justice. From the >>airport welcome ceremony to the procession through the streets of Port >>Harcourt, and the >>narrow roads of Ogoni lands, they had come, singing and dancing, >>bringing back a certain >>vibrancy to the embattled area, unimaginable five years ago. At Bori, >>close to 100,000 >>people had lined up to hear Wiwa address them. And although the >>expected release of the >>remains of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight activists was postponed to >>enable Owens and >>the rest of the Wiwa family put in place the necessary arrangements for >>the arrival of >>pathologists from Canada and the U.S. experts to identify which remains >>belonged to which >>activist, the gesture by the government remained significant. Activist >>and counsel to the >>20 Ogonis detained for their alleged roles in the 1994 murders of four >>prominent Ogonis, >>Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage, Mrs. >>Joy Yowika told The >>Guardian that "the approval for the release of the remains is a >>vindication of Ken and the >>other eight men. It shows that they believe like we have always done >>that they were not >>responsible for the murders." >> >>Expressing similar sentiments Owens Wiwa noted that "this gesture by >>the government is a >>vindication of my brother and the others who were killed for murders >>they did not commit. >>Ken was a man of peace who until his death advocated a non-violent >>approach to the issue of >>justice for the oil producing communities." >> >>The Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili had, following receipt of >>the approval letter >>from president Obasanjo from Ogoni lawyer Mrs. Joy Yowika, approved >>Friday June 25, for the >>identification of the graves. >> >>Owens Wiwa, Mrs. Joy Yowika, as well as members of the families of the >>eight other Ogonis >>hanged with Ken Saro Wiwa were expected to proceed to the Port Harcourt >>Cemetery at 1.00 >>p.m. in company of Rivers State Police Commissioner, Musa Abdukadir, >>for the identification >>of the graves and subsequent exumation of the remains. >> >>However, on getting to the Moscow Road, Old G.R.A., office of the >>police commissioner they >>were informed of a change in plans. The relatives of the hanged >>activists were asked to >>report a meeting with the State Governor at Government House. >> >>Before this, a major confrontation was averted between Owens Wiwa and >>one of the Senior >>Security Operatives who had supervised the hangings and subsequent >>irreverent dumping of >>the bodies in the graves after the hangings. >> >>On sighting Owens Wiwa around the police commissioners office, several >>policemen had surged >>forward to offer warm greetings in sharp contrast to their standard >>disposition when >>tyranny held sway in the land. However, Dr. Wiwa recoiled from close >>contact with the >>senior police officer, warning him not to get close to him. The man, >>crushed in momentary >>shame slunk away. >> >>Wiwa later told The Guardian: "I feel really bad to know that security >>people like that man >>are still part of the system. Those were some of the people who >>supervised the hanging of >>my brother and the other men. It means that nothing has changed. The >>same evil system >>remains," he lamented, shaking his head. >> >>At the meeting with the Governor in company of his deputy, Sir Gabriel >>Toby, the group of >>anxious Ogonis was informed that Government had decided to shift the >>identification of the >>graves until the Wiwa family and the other Ogoni families fix a date >>for the reburial. >> >>Odili informed Wiwa and the two female relatives present that "I want >>to assure you that >>this government is behind you in this. We would also want to be part of >>the burial >>arrangements. But the grave sites cannot be identified for now until we >>are sure of the >>burial arrangements. Revealing the sites would mean putting 24 hour >>security arrangements >>in place, which of course would be very expensive". >> >>The government, stated that it wanted to avoid a situation whereby >>mischief makers on >>knowing the grave sites could descrate the graves or the remains to >>discredit the >>government. >> >>A new date is expected to be announced later this year after >>pathologists who are expected >>to identify at least, the remains of Ken Saro-Wiwa through medical >>records in the custody >>of his son Ken Wiwa currently living in Canada, may have concluded >>their investigations. >> >>The Ogonis and other activits expressed support for a proper >>identification of the remains. >>According to Akobo "it is important that after all that has happened >>the actual remains are >>what we get. The pathologists must be part of the process to identify >>the remains." >> >>Fears were expressed about what state the remains would be in with of >>reports that the >>bodies were bathed in acid after the men were hanged about 4 years ago. >> >>The return of Owens Wiwa and the whole process of securing approval for >>the release of the >>remain underscored the depth of the rift in the Ogoni leadership, which >>culminated in the >>reported suspension of acting president of MOSDP he dum mitee, last >>year. Although the >>reported suspension by MOSOP branch in Canada and US never took effect, >>the conspicious >>absence of Ledum Mitee at the reception organised for Owens Wiwa and >>the non involvement in >>the arrangements to retrieve the remains was indicative of a widening >>gulf between the two >>groups. >> >>Both Ledum Mitee MOSOPs acting president and his younger brother Batom >>who had been at the >>centre of MOSOP activities at the Oroworuko village base of MOSOP when >>the older Mitee was >>away from the country told The Guardian that they did not get any >>invitation to be part of >>the activities. >> >>"I didn't get any invitation I have not been around," Mitee told The >>Guardian in Port >>Harcourt, while Batom Mitee said in an earlier interview that "MOSOP >>was not informed." >> >>The re-opening of the 24 Aggrey Road, Port Harcourt former headquarters >>of MOSOP, shut down >>in the height of the clampdown on MOSOP by security operatives, as a >>symbol of a freshly >>invigorated MOSOP was another sore point in the strained relationship >>between MOSOP's >>clearly factionalised leadership. Ledum Mitee who spoke with The >>Guardian on several issues >>relating to the state of affairs in Ogoni land refused to be drawn into >>discussing the >>rift. But Batom Mitee in an earlier interview stressed that MOSOP was >>not informed of >>activities concerning Owens return. "We have been operating from this >>office. But for him >>to come and say they are reopening the MOSOP office on Aggrey Road is >>surprising. After the >>death of his brother he said MOSOP should not be allowed to use that >>office," he stated >>bitterly. >> >>Despite the denials of the Mitees, a letter dissociating MOSOP from >>activities marking the >>home coming of Dr. Owens Wiwa as well as the International Day of >>action against >>Imperialism on June 19 signed by Deeka Menegaton, Secretary, MOSOPs >>steering Committee and >>dated June 17, 1999 was circulated in Port Harcourt and Ogoni land. >>Even in the face of the >>palpable strains, both Owens Wiwa and the Mitees strove to underplay >>the differences. Batom >>Mitee, a member of MOSOP steering Committee insisted that the Ogonis >>are united but added: >>that MOSOP is not Owens Wiwa. When we talk of Ken, we do not refer to >>him as a person but >>as a symbol of the Ogoni struggle and the Ogoni struggle is not just >>about demanding for >>the bodies of the Ogoni 9, but several other issues are at stake." >>Owens Wiwa also insisted >>that. "There is no crisis," but added that "MOSOP just wants to put its >>accounting >>practices in order." >> >>Speaking in response, Batom Mitee countered that "Owens gets support >>from groups also but >>he wants Ledum to give account to him. It is wrong because Ledum is >>acting president and >>does not have to give account to Wiwa. It is only the steering >>Committee of MOSOP based in >>Nigeria which has the mandate to make such demands adding that "what >>funds MOSOP has is >>tied to projects funded by donors. When groups donate for particular >>projects, for instance >>the Niger Delta Conference held in February, accounts are sent to the >>donors or Embassy >>concerned and if they are not satisfied, they write to us." >> >>Clearly, a supremacy battle is an issue here. But Wiwa insists: "I have >>no ambitions to >>step into my brothers shoes through some people insinuate that I am >>trying to imitate him. >>There are many things about him that are worthy of emulation and I pray >>to God to be able >>to do some of the things he did, but I definitely do not want to be >>president of MOSOP. But >>I insist, as a member of MOSOP's Steering Committee that we must be >>seen by all to be clean >>in all our activities especially where it concerns funds from donors >>who have supported the >>Ogoni struggle all these years." >> >>The disagreements in the MOSOP are a source of concern to activists in >>the Niger Delta and >>Ogoni friends from abroad and Ogoni at home. At a reception for Wiwa at >>Bori on Saturday, >>June 19, the notes of unity were emphasised by all who spoke giving a >>lie to the insistence >>by the MOSOP leadership that all is well within its ranks. The chant at >>the ceremony was >>"one MOSOP, One Ogoni". >> >>Frank Kirwan, an Irish activist from the Ogoni solidarity in Ireland, >>noted that "The >>People need to unite in order to overcome oppression. The International >>Community needs to >>be assured that there is unity in MOSOP. I must say that the impression >>of disunity in >>MOSOP is disturbing. There has, to be unity in MOSOP as well as in >>groups in the Niger >>Delta strugglIng to over come oppression. >> >>Also expressing similar concerns in his address Chief Bara Koro a >>member of the Conference >>of Ogoni traditional Rulers, COTRA noted that "Hence forth, there >>should be no division on >>MOSOP. We must speak in one voice. We are going to return to reconcile >>ourselves". >> >>COTRA has set in motion a machinery for reconciling the antagonistic >>sides of MOSOP. A >>meeting was held on Saturday June 26, to give both sides an opportunity >>to states their >>grievances. It is not clear how successful the meeting has been. What >>is clear is the >>imperative of both sides closing ranks to move the Ogoni struggle >>forward. >> >>Although the Ogonis insist that after all they had lost they would >>settle for nothing less >>than greater autonomy and resource control as contained in the Ogoni >>bill of Rights, they >>resent their continuing loss of voice on National affairs. Senators >>Cyrus Nunieh, Second >>Republic Senator and respected Ogoni elder, told The Guardian in Port >>Harcourt that "Ogonis >>are still facing marginalisation despite all that happened. Khana Local >>Government is the >>oldest council in the country and largest in Ogoni land but there is >>not a single Khana >>person in the House of Representatives not to talk of a senator. There >>is no single Ogoni >>Senator. No Ogoni was nominated minister as well." >> >>Ledum Mitee notes as well that "the Ogonis are marginalised both at the >>state and federal >>government levels in the past administration had a meeting with the >>Head of State Gen. >>Abdulsalami Abubakar and promises were made to carry the Ogonis along, >>but nothing was >>fulfilled. We had expected to meet with Obasanjo during his last visit >>to Rivers State, but >>nothing came out of it." >> >>But the Ogonis are not giving up "we are still pressing for an >>opportunity to meet with >>him. We have sent an invitation to him to come to Ogoniland and see >>things for himself. I >>think it will be better that way. I am afraid that if we have to go to >>Abuja to meet him >>and our people get to see what Abuja is like and what Ogoniland still >>is, there will be >>trouble." >> >>In the mean time the Ogonis are doing all they can to put the past >>behind them. They are >>preparing to move forward by going back to the past. If there is an >>area the presently >>divided leadership of MOSOP agreed on it is in the area of reliving the >>past in order to >>allow justice prevail. >> >>The Ogoni are in the process of compiling names and cases of victims of >>the repressive past >>for investigation by the Justice Oputa panel. Mrs. Joy Yowika told the >>Guardian that we are >>compiling cases of Ogoni 21, the Ogoni 9 and others. I believe also >>that from >>investigation, we would know how security men killed the Ogoni 4 in >>order to kill Ken >>Saro-Wiwa. People are coming forward with information and evidence as >>well as video tapes. >> >>"In the black years of Abacha, Ogonis really suffered, Children were >>beaten and women >>raped. Husbands had to beg their wives to allow themselves be raped >>inorder to spare the >>whole families certain death," she stated in mournful tones. >> >>For the Ogoni, clearly reconciliation with selves and rest of the >>country is still a long >>way off but, the Oputa panel is a necessary first step. >> >>Indeed for the people of this ethnic nationality numbering about >>500,000, the emotion of >>fear and the realities of loss have been mostly their lots until recent >>times. >> >>The lifting of the gloom over the land following the return of civilian >>governance, has >>brought to the Ogonis sufficient excuse to dance again.` >> >> Ogoni youths protesting >> Ken Saro-Wiwa >> Ledum Mitee >> Owens Saro-Wiwa >> >Dr. Owens Wiwa >The Clarke Institute, >250 College Street, Toronto, >Ontario M5T 1R8.Canada >Tel.-416-979-4747 ext.2419 > MOSOP Canada info@mosopcanada.org www.mosopcanada.org tel 416 966 0910 fax 416 966 0141