Ken Saro Wiwa's refusal to take the witness stand to testify and clear himself of murder charges subject to cross-examination is a big and fatal mistake. He should have been properly advised not to underestimate the seriousness of the proceedings.
KEN SARO WIWA could not believe what happened to him. Lesson: DO NOT SABOTAGE YOUR OWN PEOPLE'S EFFORTS TOWARDS THEIR LIBERATION. He never, in his wildest dreams, believed Abacha would confirm his death sentence! From Oputa panel's revelations, on the day of his execution, he was unable to face his fate with fortitude because he believed that his sentence would be commutted by his BEST FRIEND, SANI ABACHA. When they came for him, he kept on asking if Abacha was aware? He Resisted being led to the execution point, kept on protesting for time as he expected reprieve would come at the 11th hour. To calm him, he was shown the execution order signed by Abacha, but he frantically denounced it as fake, demanding audience with Abacha immediately. The officer commanding the squad, a junior officer told him, the only report his superiors would listen to would be report of his death and nothing else. Wiwa reverted to telling his killers how close he was to Abacha; the afternoons they spent playing tennis at 2nd Artillery brigade in Port Harcourt in the 70s, the nice evenings they used to have. That during the Ogoni protests, based on their old times as friends and best buddies, he had expected Abacha to have called him and asked him the least Ogoni would have accepted. Wiwa pleaded and pleaded for his life to be spared. His pleas fell on deaf ears. "Oh God", he screamed, let my pleas work. His eyes were greasy with welling tears. Why should today be his last day on earth? What crimes did he commit? That he asked for his people to have a share of the wealth that comes from their land? The land that no longer supports farming or fishing because of pollution from oil spillage. He mistook the officer's dark reflections for contemplations of pity! Any independent observer would conclude that Saro Wiwa deserved pity and more. He had worked for it. His efforts during the civil war shortened its duration and saved thousands of Nigerian soldiers' lives. You see, while Biafran soldiers blocked Omanelu and Isiokpo axis through Elele Junction, Saro Wiwa was able to organise guides who guided the Nigerian soldiers to infiltrate through Etche, Alulu, link up to Ihiagwa and Nekede, connect Obosima and cut-off Biafran soldiers who had successfully blocked the 3rd Marine Commandos Advance led by Black Scorpion, Benjamin Adekunle. Wiwa was rewarded with appointment as the Civilian Administrator of the port city of Bonny. And it was really this bit of history that was the bone of contention. He rightly or wrongly believed he had equal stake in the territory called Nigeria, having staked his life and helped in defeating those who were neigbours to him - the Igbos. So, the shares of spoils of war, for which oil was the paramount spoil, should be extended to his people, because, without their efforts, it would have been impossible to subdue Biafra in the battle field. Remember that the 3rd Marine Commandos were eventually routed from Owerri, just before the end of the war, wherein Black Scorpion among the few to escape, had to escape dressed as a woman, for which he was court- marshalled and dishonourably discharged. Benjamin Adekunle, the Black scorpion, died a pauper, neglected by the federal side he fought for. On the other hand, Wiwa's erstwhile partners in conquest/crime, Fulanis, believed they had more than adequately rewarded him by making him an administrator of the city of Bonny and also making him a commissioner in Rivers State. So he should keep off the oil, whether it was drilled from his village or not. Posterity would judge who was right between him and those Abacha represented. For me as a scholar, I believe his requests or demands were quite in order. Eye wey see deal, dey follow share. The child who pounded the pepper is entitled to a share. Wiwa's fate had been decided the day he asked about the oil. The recipients of the message were people from the oil-producing communities. None would dare ask questions about "our oil" after Ken Saro Wiwa's execution. At that point, the captain gave his orders and he was lifted up, struggling and protesting till he was tied up and killed. When the question of the whereabouts of Wiwa's body was raised at the Oputa panel, one of the soldiers giving evidence reported that it was completely dissolved in acid. ☝🏾This is an intelligent narrative beautifully written. But I should add that Mr Saro-Wiwa - like Adaka Boro, and many other "Niger Delta" youths who would betray their new republic - had studied at secondary schools and university on old Eastern Nigeria scholarship. It should also be noted that because of Saro-Wiwa's betrayal, he was also rewarded with countless number of "ABANDONED PROPERTIES", including some previously belonging to Chief John Anyaehie (late father of Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie), CoS to Governor Uzodinma). Late Sani Abacha and late Saro-Wiwa onced lived together in one of the ABANDONED PROPERTIES he had seized FROM IGBOS.. Ken Saro Wiwa's Son, Ken Jnr, also died very young. He died suddenly in London on 18 October 2016, aged 47, after suffering a stroke. Another son, who had mental health issues, died last year, 2020, of Covid. Finally, recall that, before Saro-Wiwa's arrest, he had run to the SAME Enugu and the SAME Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, whom he had betrayed, to ask for Igbo intervention in his murder case. It was then that Ojukwu sarcastically uttered that immortal word "Okokorokoooo" (Cock crowing in the morning - Good morning) - to the frightened Ogoni man. The meeting that Saro-Wiwa attended was at Hotel Presidential Enugu, built by Michael Okpara who had given Saro-Wiwa scholarship to study at Government College Umuahia - and also betrayed by Saro-Wiwa! Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu
As you can watch in this video, Ken Saro Wiwa was psychologically and mentally prepared for whatever that happened there, he knew the government has decided his fate already so he knew nothing could be done, he never begged or anything you wrote up here. Please let the dead rest. Watch the video properly and learn do not transfer bitterness to confuse the masses
@John Bull, if your story is true then with people like you he made the right Choice, he protected his people from the biafra mafia. He was a great man for this.
One of the things wiwa said im his trial “we all stand before history". I believe Wiwa was fighting for Ogoni people, but you can't eat your cake and have it. He who betrayed shall be betrayed.
Ken Saro Wiwa is a hero and a great man. Ojuku a scoundrel and an ultimate betrayal of all the people that died in the reckless Igbo Biafra war. Yes, Ken Saro Wiwa was murdered by multinational oil companies led by the Royal Dutch Shell that instigated, incite and engineered the executions and other communal killings in Ogoniland during that period. Yes, the Hausa-Fulanis, Yorubas, and Igbos dominated so called federal govt of Nigeria were apprehensive and freaked out about the stoppage of petrodollars but careless about the destructions of Ogoniland as result of crude oil extractions. An Igbo man named Emeka Anyaoku who was then Secretary General of the Commonwealth pushed Abacha govt to execute Ken before the 30days clemency period ended because according to this useless Igbo man, if Ken was not executed immediately that it would be difficult to carried out the execution once the Commonwealth reconvened. Just like Abacha, Emeka Anyaoku is an evil man! Ken knew he was going to be killed when he made the decision to take on these giants and he was ready for it. Like so many people Ken could have make some noise then use it to enrich himself like some folks are doing today. Ken had every opportunities to escape had he wanted to, just like the late Ojuku did during Igbo Biafra war. Ken did not escape nor did he changed his mind. Apart from the fact that Ken has a strong will, he was resolute because he was doing something he wanted to do to fulfilled his life calling. Ken Saro Wiwa story is a story of a great man. Ken is looking down on us from heaven, may his soul rest in peace..
Your hate for igbo will lead to your downfall. Ken is a sabotaur, betrayal. He worked for Nigeria to betray Biafrans. Shame to him. Nigeria kills him shamefully.
@@daxorleans5587 don't mind the guy. He's living in self delusion. The same man that had F-9 in his scholarships results 🧾 but still yet the the eastern regions government granted him scholarship , he still had the temerity to back stab the igbo's . Anyone who back stabs his neighbor ,karma will surely catch up with them. Same with adaka boro , he betrayed the igbo's and he d'3d fighting on the Nigerian side in the war. The same fates the middle beltans are suffering today. The middle belt christians joined hands with their Muslim up north and keed the igbo's. Today they are been slaughtered like fowls
The interesting thing is that this same man who is speaking here will be supporting the Nigerian state. The Nigerian army was originally an Islamic/Arab(Fulanis were classified as Arabs during the slave trade) slave raiding terror group. It was renamed Nigerian army in 1863. The tribunal was made of people from the army and because Crude oil replaced slaves which the army exported during the slave trade, it was illegal to do anything against oil just as it was to campaign against the slave trade, back then.
You must be an Igbo man. He supported the Nigerian govt at the time because it was General Ironsi who conspired with other Igbo officers to assassinate the nationalist father Balewa. Plus, the Igbos themselves are colonizers. They already dominated the Eastern region at the time and the Ijaws, Itsekiri, Ogonis, amongst others couldn't even get into some places in the '40s and '50s because they had to be Igbo in order to get into these places. Stop with your Biafra!!!! We warn you!!!
@@krisslivaanyanwu6407 The same thing you accuse the Fulani of doing, you do yourself. Go and watch your Biafra videos. Ibos are just as bad as the Fulani! What we should have in Nigeria now is a sovereign national conference where are the individual ethnic groups in Nigeria decide whether or not they want to stay with Nigeria or go because after all Nigeria is a colonial settlement by the British.
@@sordumdeeyaa832 just imagine the amount of ignorance and misinformation you are carrying about. Who ever told you minorities were marginalized in the old Eastern region? This is pure blatant lie that Nigerians keep spreading as part of a greater propaganda designed to justify their jealously and hatred for Igbo people.
What I know is that u shouldn't include the Ijaws, Ogonis, Edo e.g Itsekiri and Urhobo, Ibibbio, Iwkerre, and others. If you want an Igbo country u can have it.
kangaroo court. Shell is as guilty as the Abacha govt...They both had a hand in his unlawful execution
may he rest in peace condolences to his family and friends
Ken Saro Wiwa's refusal to take the witness stand to testify and clear himself of murder charges subject to cross-examination is a big and fatal mistake. He should have been properly advised not to underestimate the seriousness of the proceedings.
KEN SARO WIWA could not believe what happened to him.
Lesson:
DO NOT SABOTAGE YOUR OWN PEOPLE'S EFFORTS TOWARDS THEIR LIBERATION.
He never, in his wildest dreams, believed Abacha would confirm his death sentence!
From Oputa panel's revelations, on the day of his execution, he was unable to face his fate with fortitude because he believed that his sentence would be commutted by his BEST FRIEND, SANI ABACHA.
When they came for him, he kept on asking if Abacha was aware?
He Resisted being led to the execution point, kept on protesting for time as he expected reprieve would come at the 11th hour.
To calm him, he was shown the execution order signed by Abacha, but he frantically denounced it as fake, demanding audience with Abacha immediately.
The officer commanding the squad, a junior officer told him, the only report his superiors would listen to would be report of his death and nothing else.
Wiwa reverted to telling his killers how close he was to Abacha; the afternoons they spent playing tennis at 2nd Artillery brigade in Port Harcourt in the 70s, the nice evenings they used to have. That during the Ogoni protests, based on their old times as friends and best buddies, he had expected Abacha to have called him and asked him the least Ogoni would have accepted.
Wiwa pleaded and pleaded for his life to be spared. His pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Oh God", he screamed, let my pleas work. His eyes were greasy with welling tears.
Why should today be his last day on earth?
What crimes did he commit? That he asked for his people to have a share of the wealth that comes from their land? The land that no longer supports farming or fishing because of pollution from oil spillage.
He mistook the officer's dark reflections for contemplations of pity!
Any independent observer would conclude that Saro Wiwa deserved pity and more. He had worked for it. His efforts during the civil war shortened its duration and saved thousands of Nigerian soldiers' lives.
You see, while Biafran soldiers blocked Omanelu and Isiokpo axis through Elele Junction, Saro Wiwa was able to organise guides who guided the Nigerian soldiers to infiltrate through Etche, Alulu, link up to Ihiagwa and Nekede, connect Obosima and cut-off Biafran soldiers who had successfully blocked the 3rd Marine Commandos Advance led by Black Scorpion, Benjamin Adekunle.
Wiwa was rewarded with appointment as the Civilian Administrator of the port city of Bonny.
And it was really this bit of history that was the bone of contention.
He rightly or wrongly believed he had equal stake in the territory called Nigeria, having staked his life and helped in defeating those who were neigbours to him - the Igbos.
So, the shares of spoils of war, for which oil was the paramount spoil, should be extended to his people, because, without their efforts, it would have been impossible to subdue Biafra in the battle field.
Remember that the 3rd Marine Commandos were eventually routed from Owerri, just before the end of the war, wherein Black Scorpion among the few to escape, had to escape dressed as a woman, for which he was court- marshalled and dishonourably discharged. Benjamin Adekunle, the Black scorpion, died a pauper, neglected by the federal side he fought for.
On the other hand, Wiwa's erstwhile partners in conquest/crime, Fulanis, believed they had more than adequately rewarded him by making him an administrator of the city of Bonny and also making him a commissioner in Rivers State.
So he should keep off the oil, whether it was drilled from his village or not.
Posterity would judge who was right between him and those Abacha represented. For me as a scholar, I believe his requests or demands were quite in order.
Eye wey see deal, dey follow share. The child who pounded the pepper is entitled to a share.
Wiwa's fate had been decided the day he asked about the oil.
The recipients of the message were people from the oil-producing communities. None would dare ask questions about "our oil" after Ken Saro Wiwa's execution.
At that point, the captain gave his orders and he was lifted up, struggling and protesting till he was tied up and killed.
When the question of the whereabouts of Wiwa's body was raised at the Oputa panel, one of the soldiers giving evidence reported that it was completely dissolved in acid.
☝🏾This is an intelligent narrative beautifully written.
But I should add that Mr Saro-Wiwa - like Adaka Boro, and many other "Niger Delta" youths who would betray their new republic - had studied at secondary schools and university on old Eastern Nigeria scholarship.
It should also be noted that because of Saro-Wiwa's betrayal, he was also rewarded with countless number of "ABANDONED PROPERTIES", including some previously belonging to Chief John Anyaehie (late father of Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie), CoS to Governor Uzodinma).
Late Sani Abacha and late Saro-Wiwa onced lived together in one of the ABANDONED PROPERTIES he had seized FROM IGBOS..
Ken Saro Wiwa's Son, Ken Jnr, also died very young. He died suddenly in London on 18 October 2016, aged 47, after suffering a stroke.
Another son, who had mental health issues, died last year, 2020, of Covid.
Finally, recall that, before Saro-Wiwa's arrest, he had run to the SAME Enugu and the SAME Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, whom he had betrayed, to ask for Igbo intervention in his murder case. It was then that Ojukwu sarcastically uttered that immortal word "Okokorokoooo" (Cock crowing in the morning - Good morning) - to the frightened Ogoni man.
The meeting that Saro-Wiwa attended was at Hotel Presidential Enugu, built by Michael Okpara who had given Saro-Wiwa scholarship to study at Government College Umuahia - and also betrayed by Saro-Wiwa!
Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu
As you can watch in this video, Ken Saro Wiwa was psychologically and mentally prepared for whatever that happened there, he knew the government has decided his fate already so he knew nothing could be done, he never begged or anything you wrote up here. Please let the dead rest. Watch the video properly and learn do not transfer bitterness to confuse the masses
@John Bull, if your story is true then with people like you he made the right Choice, he protected his people from the biafra mafia. He was a great man for this.
One of the things wiwa said im his trial “we all stand before history". I believe Wiwa was fighting for Ogoni people, but you can't eat your cake and have it. He who betrayed shall be betrayed.
Hero Ken Saro Wiwa.
Ken Saro Wiwa is a hero and a great man. Ojuku a scoundrel and an ultimate betrayal of all the people that died in the reckless Igbo Biafra war. Yes, Ken Saro Wiwa was murdered by multinational oil companies led by the Royal Dutch Shell that instigated, incite and engineered the executions and other communal killings in Ogoniland during that period. Yes, the Hausa-Fulanis, Yorubas, and Igbos dominated so called federal govt of Nigeria were apprehensive and freaked out about the stoppage of petrodollars but careless about the destructions of Ogoniland as result of crude oil extractions. An Igbo man named Emeka Anyaoku who was then Secretary General of the Commonwealth pushed Abacha govt to execute Ken before the 30days clemency period ended because according to this useless Igbo man, if Ken was not executed immediately that it would be difficult to carried out the execution once the Commonwealth reconvened. Just like Abacha, Emeka Anyaoku is an evil man!
Ken knew he was going to be killed when he made the decision to take on these giants and he was ready for it. Like so many people Ken could have make some noise then use it to enrich himself like some folks are doing today. Ken had every opportunities to escape had he wanted to, just like the late Ojuku did during Igbo Biafra war. Ken did not escape nor did he changed his mind. Apart from the fact that Ken has a strong will, he was resolute because he was doing something he wanted to do to fulfilled his life calling. Ken Saro Wiwa story is a story of a great man. Ken is looking down on us from heaven, may his soul rest in peace..
Your hate for igbo will lead to your downfall. Ken is a sabotaur, betrayal. He worked for Nigeria to betray Biafrans. Shame to him. Nigeria kills him shamefully.
LoL,,,are you sure you know anything about history¿?
@@daxorleans5587 don't mind the guy. He's living in self delusion. The same man that had F-9 in his scholarships results 🧾 but still yet the the eastern regions government granted him scholarship , he still had the temerity to back stab the igbo's . Anyone who back stabs his neighbor ,karma will surely catch up with them. Same with adaka boro , he betrayed the igbo's and he d'3d fighting on the Nigerian side in the war. The same fates the middle beltans are suffering today. The middle belt christians joined hands with their Muslim up north and keed the igbo's. Today they are been slaughtered like fowls
You are a bloody fool
Continue ranting Igbos have moved on
I'm wondering why Mandela didn't intervene?
He mugabe and other leaders intervened but still,he was still killed
blood on ur hands shell oil company
Thousands and millions and billions have will face this?
The interesting thing is that this same man who is speaking here will be supporting the Nigerian state. The Nigerian army was originally an Islamic/Arab(Fulanis were classified as Arabs during the slave trade) slave raiding terror group. It was renamed Nigerian army in 1863. The tribunal was made of people from the army and because Crude oil replaced slaves which the army exported during the slave trade, it was illegal to do anything against oil just as it was to campaign against the slave trade, back then.
You must be an Igbo man. He supported the Nigerian govt at the time because it was General Ironsi who conspired with other Igbo officers to assassinate the nationalist father Balewa. Plus, the Igbos themselves are colonizers. They already dominated the Eastern region at the time and the Ijaws, Itsekiri, Ogonis, amongst others couldn't even get into some places in the '40s and '50s because they had to be Igbo in order to get into these places. Stop with your Biafra!!!! We warn you!!!
Sordum Deeyaa shut up
@@krisslivaanyanwu6407 The same thing you accuse the Fulani of doing, you do yourself. Go and watch your Biafra videos. Ibos are just as bad as the Fulani! What we should have in Nigeria now is a sovereign national conference where are the individual ethnic groups in Nigeria decide whether or not they want to stay with Nigeria or go because after all Nigeria is a colonial settlement by the British.
@@sordumdeeyaa832 just imagine the amount of ignorance and misinformation you are carrying about. Who ever told you minorities were marginalized in the old Eastern region? This is pure blatant lie that Nigerians keep spreading as part of a greater propaganda designed to justify their jealously and hatred for Igbo people.
What I know is that u shouldn't include the Ijaws, Ogonis, Edo e.g Itsekiri and Urhobo, Ibibbio, Iwkerre, and others. If you want an Igbo country u can have it.