31 Years After Saro-Wiwa’s Execution, Ogoni Leaders Renew Call for Justice and Development

…KAGOTE Demands Accountability, Environmental Restoration and Inclusive Oil Resumption Process

Thirty-one years after the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, Ogoni socio-cultural group, KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme), has renewed its call for justice, accountability and accelerated development in Ogoniland.

The President of KAGOTE, Chief Lesi Maol, made the appeal in Port Harcourt during the commemoration of the annual Ogoni Heroes Day, also known as Ogoni Martyrs Day, marking the execution of Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists on November 10, 1995, by the military government of General Sani Abacha.

Maol urged the Federal Government to make the remembrance a renewed commitment to addressing the developmental and environmental challenges facing Ogoni communities.

He noted that the history of oil exploration in Ogoniland was not measured only by economic figures but also by the sacrifices of Saro-Wiwa and others who fought for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of their people.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government and Rivers State Government towards addressing the needs of Ogoniland, the KAGOTE president maintained that more concrete interventions were required to improve the living conditions of residents.

He also declared the group’s readiness to work constructively with the Federal Government towards a peaceful, responsible and mutually beneficial resumption of oil activities in the area.

According to him, discussions surrounding oil resumption must be handled with seriousness, wisdom and responsibility to ensure that petroleum resources become instruments of reconciliation, environmental recovery, economic empowerment and long-term prosperity.

“November 10 must be more than a day of mourning. It must also be a day of accountability, renewal and recommitment to the development of Ogoniland. Our departed heroes deserve more than annual tributes. They deserve a living legacy reflected in the wellbeing of our people,” Maol stated.

He further called for the implementation of agreed confidence-building measures, insisting that they should produce visible and verifiable results before any final Memorandum of Understanding is concluded.

Maol also advocated credible, transparent and inclusive congresses across the four Ogoni local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme to ensure that the concerns and interests of the people are adequately represented.

The KAGOTE president commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to dialogue and efforts towards finding a lasting solution to the Ogoni question.

He equally acknowledged the contributions of the Rivers State Government, the Ogoni Dialogue Committee and other stakeholders involved in the engagement process.

He stressed that the group’s position should not be interpreted as opposition to government or resistance to development, but as a call for fairness, mutual trust and respect in the management of the area’s resources.

Maol also recalled the Ogoni Bill of Rights, adopted 36 years ago, describing it as a testament to the foresight and collective vision of Ogoni founding leaders.

He maintained that the document remains relevant because it reflects the aspirations of the Ogoni people and the responsibility of successive generations to protect their future.

Furthermore, he called for stronger coordination among relevant regulatory institutions, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), host communities and prospective oil operators to guarantee environmental restoration, public health protection and responsible resource development.

He reaffirmed KAGOTE’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote peace, strengthen public institutions, improve social welfare and create sustainable economic opportunities for Ogoniland.