. . . Insist on Bori State, Proper Cleanup
By: Felix Ikpotor
The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation has refuted a photograph circulating in the media and purporting to be a reconciliation between the Ken Saro-Wiwa Family, Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation and Shell Petroleum Development Company (now Renaissance Energy Africa).
Dr. Owens Wiwa, younger brother to the late environmentalist in a statement on behalf of the family and the foundation said the tree planting and pictures making the rounds were staged-managed while Zina-Wiwa, daughter of the late Ken was tricked to attend the event.
He said the facilitator of the event has been relieved of his duties by the foundation for his action, the tree uprooted, while urging the public to discountenace the publication.
The incident we gathered occurred during a recent commissioning of water projects by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Bane, Saro-Wiwa’s hometown.
Wiwa stated that there has not been any agreement reached with Renaissance Energy Africa (former SPDC).
The statement read: ” The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation is aware of a fake news item and stage-managed photograph that purport to proclaim, “Record of Restorative Reconciliation and Collaboration in Ogoniland”.
’The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation and the Wiwa family totally disclaim this stage-managed incident. The tree planting was not authorised, and Zina Saro-Wiwa was tricked into attending the event by the charade’s facilitator, who was relieved of his duties following this atrocious act. The Foundation has since uprooted the offensive trees planted”.
”For the avoidance of doubt, the Ken Saro-Wiwa family and the Foundation have not had any sort of reconciliation with Shell or its new name (Renaissance). Both entities remain persona non grata in Ogoni”.
He insisted that Renaissance must carryout a proper clean up of the polluted Ogoni environment and also take responsibility for the killings that occurred in the area during the late General Sani Abacha-led military regime in the country.
Wiwa however, commended efforts by HYPREP to restore the Ogoni environment but said it should be complimented with the creation of Bori State.
”Shell, now renamed Renaissance, must clean up the Ogoni environment completely and must be held accountable for the killings that took place in Ogoni by the officers of the Nigerian army led by the late Major Okuntimo whom they paid to kill and pacify the Ogonis so oil drilling could recommence.
”The effort by HYPREP (Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project) to clean up the land and rivers is a good first step. This must be complemented by a political discussion to create a Bori State for the Ogonis. It is only when the Nigerian government starts this discussion that the process of healing can start.
”The Nigerian State at a minimum owes the Ogoni people a pathway to autonomy so that Ogonis can participate in the control of their resources. A dialogue and confidence building measure based on the creation of Bori state within Nigeria is needed right now for reconciliation.
”Stage-managed photography surreptitiously set up and propagated by agents of Shell and security operatives will not deceive the Ogoni people who will not capitulate to their decapitation and obnoxious efforts,” he maintained.
