By Daniel Abia - Port Harcourt
The people of Ogoni gathered at Bori, the administrative headquarters of the kingdom in Khana local government area of Rivers State on Sunday, November 10 to reflect on the sad memories of its fallen heroes who died as a result of a crisis that occurred at the time.
In a speech to commemorate the death of their kinsmen 18 years ago, President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara, recollected that the despotic government of the late General Sani Abacha snuffed out the lives of our fellow compatriots who had committed their lives to a cause which they so dearly believed in for the liberation of our people.
It is also a day that has come to demonstrate the strength of the Ogoni people to withstand oppression and military repression. It is now celebrated to demonstrate the ability of “our people to move beyond our immediate divisive past, a division created and orchestrated by a common enemy, the Federal Government and Shell, so that we can move forward in unity of purpose.”
Legborsi said the gathering was to honour the memory of the heroes of the Ogoni struggle such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, John Kpuinen, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Badey, Chief S.N. Orage, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Chief T.B. Orage, Nordu Eawo, Paul Levura, Saturday Dobee, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Daniel Gbokoo and Dr. Garrick B. Leton.
The day also belonged to those ordinary people whose names never appeared in the history books, never got on news media, may not be well known but they all fell during the period of repression in order that both the Ogonis and the Niger Delta people may be free.
He added: “The coalition of conscience that found expression in the march of our people on January 4, 1993 culminating in the death of our heroes on November 10, 1995 is still on.
And because they marched and died, Ogoni has changed, the Niger Delta has changed. Because they died, the Ogoni oil is still under the soil, because they died, ‘Ogoni pio pio’ had given way to ‘Ogoni pure pure’, because they died, ‘our lost sense of dignity, our lost language and lost identity have been restored. Because they died, doors open so that our brothers and sisters could at least imagine a life for themselves beyond the shores of Ogoniland. “Because they died, our understanding of our environment had changed and laws have changed, because they marched and died, the Ogoni people won a psychological and moral victory over the Nigeria government and Shell.
“We had become an inspiration to thousands of people and communities all over the world. These are some of the victories that had been won because of their sacrifice. These are some of the changes that they made with each step that they took in our behalf.”
To claim that much progress has not been achieved as some are wont to say or suggest, Legborsi pointed out, dishonors the courage and the sacrifice of these our gallant compatriots that paid the supreme price that we may live.