Article
An Open Letter to the People of the Niger Delta and Those Responsible for Its Degradation
Before Ken Saro-Wiwa was publicly executed in a flawed trial that represented IOCs vs. the People, he said:
"I am not one of those who shy away from protesting injustice and oppression but the military do not act alone. They are supported by a gaggle of politicians, lawyers, judges, academics, and businessmen, all of them hiding under the claim that they are only doing their duty, men and women too afraid to wash their pants of their urine. We all stand on trial, my lord, for by our actions we have denigrated our country and jeopardized the future of our children."
In my years of working in the Niger Delta Region, as far back as 2010, I have seen the value chain of injustice. We are quick to pass blame, but if we are sincere in Africa, truth must be told.
Everybody plays a role in this evil.
First and foremost, the eldest of them all, the Oil Companies. They cut corners, use cheap materials, divide and rule for their benefit, empower thugs, overlook warnings, ignore guidelines, exploit cheap labor, and treat the people with disregard. Their footprints are stained with the oil that poisons our rivers and lands, with the blood of those who resist, and with the tears of generations whose livelihoods have been wiped away.
To the Regulators. Those who should stand as the gatekeepers of our safety and environment instead collect bribes, overlook non-compliance, fail to show up, adopt a lackadaisical attitude, employ unqualified personnel, and, ultimately, betray the trust of the people. Your silence and inaction have allowed this cycle of destruction to continue.
Local Oil merchants/ Marketers : You cut corners, inflate figures, purchase substandard materials, pay bribes, and teach the IOCs how to exploit the system because you have connections in high places. You intimidate junior staff, subjugate women, and take advantage of the vulnerable, all for personal gain. You are just as guilty as the companies you claim to oppose.
To the Community Leaders and CDCs. You embezzle funds meant for your people, inflate contracts, sell scholarship slots, and mobilize cultists to intimidate those who dare to speak out. You create unnecessary factions to weaken the collective voice, sabotage agreements, and align with the IOCs against your own people. You sell out your communities for a seat at the table of oppressors.
To the Media, CSOs and NGOs. You were meant to be the voice of the voiceless, but instead, you cut corners, pocket funds meant for relief, sell palliatives meant for flood victims, use suffering as a campaign tool, and give resources meant for the people to your family and friends. An NGO was caught selling solar panels that were funded for free distribution. You mislead communities, exploit their pain, and turn advocacy into business.
As Ken Saro-Wiwa put it,"We all stand on trial, my lord, for by our actions we have denigrated our country and jeopardized the future of our children."
Nigeria can be a golden city, if only everybody can do the right thing.
The Niger Delta does not have to be a wasteland of lost hope and stolen futures. It can be a land of prosperity, clean waters, fertile lands, and opportunity. But it begins with accountability. It begins with truth. It begins with a collective refusal to continue down this destructive path.
We cannot afford to fail the generations yet unborn. The time for change is now.
Sincerely,
Concerned Niger Deltan…
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The region’s future depends on truth, integrity, and a collective commitment to do what’s right.
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A powerful call for accountability
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The letter speaks the hard truth. This fight needs global attention because its impact extends far beyond one region.
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Very strong letter. Why was he executed what happened?
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@Rentzhog the story of Ken Saro Wiwa is deep, he led protests against SHELL and he was captured by the then military government of Nigeria, framed in a controversial trail and hanged along side with 8 other environmental activists...
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Its sad that Ken was executed. His letter however, is an indicator that we all have role in the rot that befallen our society. We therefore have a role to play in cleaning up this rot.
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This letter is not only for Niger Delta it should be known and read by all necessary the African continent also the world. Serious challenge that make this fight difficult. Noted.
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@sally_wangari you are right