The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged the Federal Government to start off the process of clearing the image of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others who were killed by the military government 22 years ago.
MOSOP is a social-cultural/political organization of the people of Ogoniland, an oil producing community in the Niger Delta region.
The President of the group, Legborsi Pyagbara, made the call at the 22nd annual remembrance day ceremony of the deceased in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday.
They are Ken Saro-Wiwa, Chief Edward Kobani, Albert Badey, John Kpuinen, Barinem Kiobel, Chief S. N. Orage, Nordu Eawo and Chief T. B. Orage. Others included Saturday Dobee, Daniel Gbokoo, Paul Levura, Baribor Bera, Garrick Leton, Felix Nuate, among others, who died in the course of the struggle.
The people of the oil rich area were crying against neglect, marginalization, injustice and inequality and other problems confronting them.
They victims led the struggle for the emancipation of Ogoni people.
They were prosecuted, convicted and killed by hanging.
The MOSOP President at the event called on Buhari to set in motion the process to clear the names of Ogoni-nine of any criminal involvement and build a national monument in their honour and memory as a way to demonstrate to the people of Ogoni that the government shares in their pain.
“MOSOP believes that the period of this commemoration provides the government of Nigeria with the opportunity to consummate the process of national healing and reconciliation with the Ogoni people by formally clearing the names of the Ogoni nine of these wrongs and establish a national monument in their honour and memory,”he said. They noted that as Ogoni land remains no go area for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), they condemned the alleged recent attempt by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to impose another company on Ogoni oil bloc without the consent of the people of Ogoni, nor holding meaningful consultations with the host communities.
The body also tasked Buhari to initiate the process of giving national honour to the nine martyrs, adding that immortalizing the individuals and clearing their names would erase the blot and perfect the quest for national healing and reconciliation.
Also Resident Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria, Dr. Edward Kallon, who was represented by Mr. Willbroad Ngambi, the UN representative in the South-South Geo-political zone, said justice ensures peace in every society, noting that the United Nations was interested in promoting environment and human rights.
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