Port Harcourt  –  Mr. Ledum  Mitee, President, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), says Ogonis and the people of Niger Delta will mark Thursday, Nov. 10 as remembrance day for Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his kinsmen hanged by government in 1995.

He told in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the execution of MOSOP’s pioneer leader, Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogonis, 16 years ago was a sacrifice made for the betterment of the Niger Delta region.

The military government headed by deceased Gen. Sani Abacha, hanged Saro-Wiwa, playwright, rights and environmental crusader, alongside eight of his kinsmen on Nov. 10, 1995 for their activities in the Niger Delta area.

Mitee told NAN that Saro-Wiwa and other Ogonis sacrificed their lives to ensure that the Niger Delta region got justice.

He said Ogonis and indeed the people of the Niger Delta observed Nov. 10 every year as special day in memory of the struggle started by Saro-Wiwa and other Ogonis for justice and equity in the region.

“Well, actually, it is a memorial, basically to remember the sacrifices that these people made, not only for the Ogoni people, but for justice for the whole Niger Delta.

“Today, whatever claims of advancement that the Niger Delta has done cannot be taken away from these sacrifices that these people made.

“And it becomes a period in our history that we should continuously remember those sacrifices and recommit and rededicate ourselves to the struggle for justice.’’

Mitee said Ogonis adopted the non-violence approach in their struggle because spilling of blood held no benefit for any party.

He said the violent approach should not be used in a civilized country as it would lead to more bloodshed.

Mitee also told NAN that Ogonis were desirous of a speedy implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme report which stated among others that there was urgent need to remediate impacted environment in the Niger Delta.

He said Ogoni’s were not happy with the response of the Federal Government because polluted water in their area was harmful to the health of the people.

“We want urgent action taken to implement that report to save our children and unborn children from living in polluted areas and from contacting diseases.’’

Mitee said Nigerians should realise that injustice to one was injustice to all because it could be the turn of another ethnic group in Nigeria to suffer same fate as the Ogonis did.

“We can reward peaceful agitations for justice.’’ (NAN)