Saro-Wiwe

From a dialog on the nuafrica list, November 1995

Without denying either the role Saro-Wiwa played as an environmental and minority rights activist, the gross human rights violations of the Nigerian Government, or the secretive trial and executions without regard to any sense of due process, what are those of us out of the know to make of the charges leveled against Saro-Wiwa? Who were the individuals murdered, the deaths of which Abacha wanted to pin on S-W and the eight other individuals executed with him? Under what circumstances were they murdered? Is it plausible that Saro-Wiwa played some role? I would appreciate it if Misty, Soren and/or others would provide us with some perspective here. Politics must be more complex than deified human and environmental rights activists battling it out against Abacha & Co. and an allied multinational.

Pier M. Larson
Penn State

Dear Pier M. Larson,

Yes, you are quite right: mindless deification would get us no where. After all, this is a social struggle where truths always appear partial and are deeply imbricated with particular ideological beliefs.

The relatives of the burnt Ogoni chiefs have of recent been telling their own side of the story, mainly that Saro Wiwa marked the chiefs for destruction. This is of course difficult to substantiate but it nevertheless remains a powerful belief. For this reason: the MOSOP leadership and the chiefs are on different sides of the ideological divide as to the proper way to deal with the Ogoni issue. While the chiefs would have nothing to do with MOSOP's radicalism and anti-government postures (holding rallies, questioning the (non)policies of both the government and the oil MNCs during those gatherings, its worldwide publicity of its struggle and thereby directing 'negative' outside attention to Nigeria, etc), the MOSOP rank and file felt the chiefs to be paid agents of and collaborators with the government (they may indeed be that, but perhaps more accurately, they were probably local leaders of the most common kind: gradualists and 'pragmatists' who prefer silence in the presence of the tyrannical power of the government). In this circumstance, it is not difficult to imagine that the more state harrassment MOSOP feels, the greater resentment it will feel toward those perceived to be local overseers of the oppressors. Given the state of tension, it was a confrontation waiting to happen, whether Saro Wiwa orders it or not.

But the question really is the government's outright disregard for the rule of law. Its logic simply was that Saro Wiwa was guilty because it was his group members who committed the offense (we know both of you are enemies, and if one day your enemy is found murdered, who else could have done it but you? Guilty!); evidence was cooked up to make the linkage. And to make sure that it gets what it wants without any challenge that may occur in a civil court (there are too many smart oppositional lawyers and Abacha is already over-exasperated with them; for many of the generals, what goes on in civil courts is too much English and time-wasting), it set up a military tribunal for what is essentially a civil offense (oh yes, the government puts a judge as one of the members of the tribunal in order to deceive you that this is not really military court). These are some of the reasons for the justified outcry. Perhaps Ken is guilty of murder, but how will we know when the process of justice is completely subverted and the government brazenly acts as if it is at last relieved to find an excuse to exterminate its vocal opponent?

tejumola olaniyan

Pier Larson is right to raise the question of the murder charges against Ken Sar Wiwa, if only to set the records straight.

Those who know Saro Wiwa, would be the first to say he was not a man to indulge in murder. He knew he had other more effective weapons to use and he did. He protested, and condemned the reckless oil explorations of Shell and others. He was unsparing in indicting the Nigerian government complicity in the affairs, particularly its failure to compensate the people who provide the whole country with such a vital source of foreign exchange. He wielded the PEN most forcefully and mercilessly.

The four pro-government chiefs were killed in a a mob action, a riot that was incited by the police and soldiers. Importantly, Saro Wiwa was in police custody/house arrest when the riot broke out.

The haste with which the executions were carried out, the secrecy sorrounding the trail and the fact that Saro Wiwa and the others were denied access to their own lawyers suggest serious cover-ups - on the part of the government, that is. I have no doubt in mind that Abacha and his government are heavily implicated in the murder of these four chiefs.

Abacha's culpability is not too far fetched. He runs an illegitimate government and the way to seek mandate is through sheer terrorism. The murder of Saro Wiwa and the other eight is the latest in his terror tactics.

The deaths of these four chiefs should be mourned too. Should have been morned by the whole nation but for the charade quest for justice that Abacha set up. It is a pity that their families were left to mourn alone, it is even more a pity that they now feel vindicated by the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa & Co. It is a tragedy because it marks Abacha's continuous act of violence against the Ogonis, the people of Nigeria and the rest of the world.

It is the good old tactics of divide and rule credo of dictators and authority by terrorism of insecure people. Ultimately, such people are stopped by the concerted actions of others. Abacha should not be allowed to get away with his tactics.

It is a travesty that the man died even though he spoke. But because he spoke, he lives on.

Omofolabo