Happy November 10; Ogonis Must Stop Pretending And Get Serious

My reality this November 10 is simple. We can’t continue to pretend then expect miracle after seventeen years. Although a day of deepest sorrow; the saddest day for Ogoni seventeen years ago and still is. It’s also a day of joy knowing that there is hope after deep imagination, hard thinking and creativity or innovation,collaboration and work.

It’s a day of happiness because our freedom shall become real, and that  Ken Saro-Wiwa and his kinsmen saw beyond the misery that is Ogoni and their pain. I still wish the Ogoni Nine were here with us that this great and just struggle will blossom beyond the pity it’s today. Their hanging created huge vacuum, thus the calculated government and $hell penetration-dividing to conquer and rule us.

Emphatically, November 10, 2012 is a moment of the truth, hence the need for critical and honest evaluation of where we’re, picking up from where we started.

My reality comes therefore in quizzical form: what have we learned and will learn as Ogonis; what have we truly achieved but for some attention to our environment and youths’ consciousness driven by Saro-Wiwa’s work/writing and those of the few that came after him?

Have we been able to consolidate this sad event in ways that no Ogoni person will be hanged after November 10, 1995? Believe me Ogonis are hanged yearly if not monthly by the Rivers State government and by extension the federal government which designed our hanging and implemented same, hence allowing the state government to continue the mayhem, as brutal as is. I know some may wonder why I called Chibuike Amaechi the devil alongside $hell yesterday in one of my posts.

We must not forget Sogho! Ogoni bleeds nonstop seventeen years after this dastard and unjust hanging?  As we’re told Sogho, one of our own is thrown into confusion and aspects of the beautiful community has been deserted. There are other Soghos facing similar Amaechi-led government’s threats due to our people’s resolve to protect their land from being illegally grabbed by Amaechi and his thugs who are in collaboration with some Ogoni chiefs, politicians and other elements. What about the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) the government and $hell sees no reason to reply or attend in any minimal way after 22 years of its creation?

Interestingly Ogoni chiefs, politicians, their thugs and others are yet to get the importance of our brotherhood; the importance of January 4, 1993, May 21, 1994 and November 10, 1995. They’re yet to fathom the sacrifices and a calculated plan by the Rivers State, federal govt and $hell to waste Ogonis and destroy our land and air, water, rivers and creeks.

Ironically  and sadly indeed, those who claim to lead MOSOP seems not to know what the organization they lead wants. We saw it on or after August 2 when Ogoni Political Autonomy (OPA) was declared. In short, the entire Ogoni was in disarray. What then have we learned and are willing to learn?  By the seventeenth Anniversary of our heroes’ hanging, a great deal of Ogonis are still not sure what the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) is about. These Ogonis, including the  intellectuals still prefer Ogoni to be fusing in a multi-ethnic state than in an established self-government or self-rule for Ogoni or political autonomy within Nigeria, which is synonymous with Nigeria’s political culture where states are created mostly on ethnic basis. So have we learned anything?

My November 10 reality shows Ogonis are still very backward seventeen years after and about 112 years after colonial British illegal invasion and conquest, which destroyed our fabric, in early 1900. That some Ogonis: politicians and chiefs especially lobbied for military cantonment as an instrument for oppression shows Ogonis are deeply divided-an experience not good for our cause; the reason the Ogoni Nine decided to die instead of settling for crumbs.

Why do we continue to pretend and celebrate without learning and applying what have been learned, especially to ensure the things the Ogoni Nine fought and died come to be; why still allow our villages sacked or conspire to sack them? Why do we settle for second or no class despite our education, natural and otherwise resources, territory and population among others?

Why is it that in seventeen years the heirs of our heroes haven’t seen the need to use the power locked in the brand names they bear to help, collaborate and let Nigeria and the world know that the ills, injustices our martyrs died to stop needs to really stop and the ideals of the struggle come to pass? Why are some family members of the Ogoni Nine fighting against Ken Saro-Wiwa’s name and popularity as seen on Facebook last week despite the obvious fact that any flow from the river has a base and direction?

Meanwhile, I appreciate the families/heirs of the Ogoni Nine and by extension the Ogoni Four making Thirteen…the more than 4 thousand unsung heroes too.  It’s unthinkable to even imagine what they have been through and will continue experiencing.  I also know that this struggle isn’t a family affair, but it’s the absolute truth that we’re all Ogonis. And that if what we’re struggling for come to be as it will, all Ogonis will benefit and these families especially will not stop at beating their chest in the deepest effusiveness that what their loved ones or fathers, husbands and brothers died for has come to fruition.

Let me be blunt with my November 10 reality. With all due respect but not for the truth, I understand Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr is the current propaganda machine or communication officer of the Nigerian government that killed his father. I also understand he once declared his father came to die for Ogoni but he came not to die but live for her; a declaration that hasn’t translated in the slightest iota rather a fall for the state policy of containment that he be removed and silence from the ideals of his father.

Hmmmm, I’m aware Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr. wrote me once saying he will sue me if I don’t stop mentioning his name, when I asked in an email to him if he’s truly in a meeting at the Rivers State or federal government house and agree with other Ogonis that $hell should return to Ogoni as the report went? When I said the truth is the best defense for alleged libel he reneged and said, my brother, this people are worrying me so much. Meaning Ogonis mentioning him in one thing or the other and which he claimed are false.

Now, “the best education money can buy,” declared by his father and which he alluded to in his book: “In the Shadow of a Saint: a son’s journey to understand his father’s legacy,” and which he said he’d have written differently when interviewed on Sahara Radio, is being used to protect and launder the image of the same government that killed his father? Weeks ago I read a statement by him claiming Dr. Jonathan’s government is committed to democracy. This kind of  comments carries weight considering the power in his brand name.  Why and how then can we get any better benefit or overall victory when such penetration and divide exist; or we still haven’t learned anything during the first seventeen years and may not learn any but pretending?

Finally, as I have said before, the son of Ken or any of the Ogoni Nine heir has right to work anywhere they choose. In this case, though the work Ken Saro-Wiwa, Jr has is because of or in the name of Ogoni. So with the brand name Ken Saro-Wiwa notwithstanding the suffix Junior, the world of international politics or conflict management and resolution/prevention experts understand the powerful brand name that can draw attention or make people standstill when behind a document or community organizing effort for enlightenment. They take such comments seriously. They may tend to also be confused,wondering what the Ogoni-Nigeria or even $hell’s relationship could be. The Nigerian government understands this game, even though according to my source he originally put on himself the task when former President Obasanjo wanted someone from the Wiwa’s family for a federal appointment.

Sadly that bargain powerful voice, that force or bargain power locked in the brand name  Ken Saro-Wiwa has been taking away and silence. We may be surprised what plans he has for November 10; or has he any? Neither he nor other members of the heroes’ family must champion the Ogoni struggle, but must also not act in manners that compromise our struggle.

If we learn little or nothing from November 10 or pretending all is well between Ogoni and government so everyone can do as wish we can’t win. Victory can’t come through pretense, dishonesty or miracle but hard work and doing the right things. A situation where Ogonis are deeply divided and no love exist, a situation where everyone wants to dance the ziibari, Nserele or victory song but no one or only few wants to learn and sing that song, victory will be deferred or short-changed.

We’re in this struggle together as Ogoni people  not minding our names. If the hydrocarbon-charged environment, which is another India’s Bhopal ready to explode isn’t intercepted immediately and it explode and causing Earthquake, sinking every home in Ogoni, we shall all be affected in no small measure. Therefore, let us start serious work beyond January 4 and Nov.10, even as these days remain the most special days in our lives. This is my November 10 reality! What is yours and are you willing to commit and not pretend?

Happy November 10, 2012!

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ben Ikari
3148272874

Source: OgoniNews

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