PRESIDENT of the Ogoni mass organisation, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, has said that the kinsmen and women of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, will embark on a journey to regain their sovereign independence violated by the British Empire in 1901.
This, he said in an online statement to AkanimoReports on Wednesday, will be non-negotiable; if by any mistake, there is another civil war aiming at Ogoni.
Diigbo recalled that the Nigeria-Biafra civil war was fought to decide who should control natural wealth, especially petroleum resources in Ogoni. He said he was alerting the world that in the event of another similar civil war, the Ogoni people will promptly declare an end to their relationship with Nigeria.
Diigbo said that the Ogoni people are monitoring the heart-beat of Nigeria and warned that the right to autonomy or self-determination remains a pre-condition now, for Ogoni to remain a part of Nigeria.
Diigbo said the decision was arrived at after MOSOP had resolved and declared that May 7 to June 6, 2012 be observed as the Ogoni Freedom-Remembrance-Month.
”MOSOP dedicated the month to Ogoni 30,000 refugees, most of them conscripts sent to battle fronts and were killed during the 1967-1970 Nigeria-Biafra civil war”, Diigbo said, adding, ”already another 10 percent of the civil war Ogoni casualties, numbering over 3,000 have been murdered by the Nigerian armed forces since 1993 in an attempt to intimidate MOSOP”.
Diigbo said all Ogoni children, men and women who died gave their lives for freedom behind the May 7 to June 6, activities. The beginning of the month coincides with the start of the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues holding in New York.
”Saturday, May 19 will feature traditional rituals, May 20 for church services, while May 21 and 22 will be work free days for nationwide nonviolent activities to unite Ogonis for a new era.
”On May 21, 1994 four Ogoni elders: Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and another Chief Orage were murdered at Giokoo, while the security forces kidnapped Ken Saro-Wiwa on May 22, 1994 to face a predetermined death sentence handed down by Justice Ibrahim Auta, a judicial rubber stamp.
”Auta who presided over a kangaroo tribunal where Saro-Wiwa was taken read out trumped up charges to hang Saro-Wiwa in a Port Harcourt prison on November 10, 1995.
”In addition to tree-planting, in cities, towns and villages throughout Ogoni, traditional dancing groups, churches, clubs, organizations, schools and businesses would be contributing entertainment, money, skills, time and friendship to strengthen MOSOP Freedom Agenda”, the Ogoni group said.