Remember the Ogoni 8

Last Saturday 10th of november was the 12th annuiversary of the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight of his comrades in the Ogoni campaignagainst Shell. The nine were executed at the behest of Shell by the Nigerian government as they were leading members of the Ogoni community. The Ogoni's have fearlessly campaigned for years against the theft of their resources and destruction of their homeland.



They have faced the brutality of the Nigerian government and Shell's private mercenaries, becoming a source of inspiration for the Shell To Sea campaign here in Ireland. Ken's brother Owens and other Ogoni activists have worked with the community of Erris in their fight for justice.

To remember these extraordinarily brave lives a candlelit vigil and video showing was held at Shell HQ on Leeson St. in Dublin. The film was projected onto the side of Shell's building and attracted interest from many passersby, it depicted the campaign of the Ogoni and the trial of Ken Saro Wiwa.

Sr. Majella of Ogoni Solidarity Ireland gave an insight into the situation in Ogoniland today, and Senator David Norris read an excerpt from Saro-Wiwa's speech at his sentencing hearing in Port Harcourt, when he and his co-defendants heard that the special military tribunal had decreed that they were to be hanged.

Cathaoirleach Ógra Átha Cliath Oisín Ó Dubhláin who was in attendance had this to say:

"This was a very moving and thought provoking ceremony. The plight of the Ogoni and the people of Erris are strongly intertwined and the solidarity between these two people although thousands of miles apart is undeniable. We must continue to fight Shells corruption and unrelenting greed for the sake of people like Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni eight, we must never let this happen again"