Activists under the aegis of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in collaboration with the Right Livelihood Foundation, held a remembrance roundtable in Lagos to mark 30 years since the execution of Nigerian environmentalist and writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists collectively known as the Ogoni Nine.
Addressing some journalists, the Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Foundation, Ole von Uexkull, described Saro-Wiwa as a “common-sense environmentalist” who fought peacefully for the dignity and survival of his people in the face of widespread environmental degradation.
Going down memory lane, he recalled how Saro-Wiwa and fellow activist Barinem Kiobel were honoured in 1994 for their fearless defence of their people’s rights against pollution and exploitation by multinational oil companies.
Von Uexkull said the foundation now has more than 200 laureates across the world, all dedicated to promoting justice, peace, and sustainability.
He added that Saro-Wiwa’s struggle reflects similar fights against fossil fuel exploitation and corporate impunity in other countries.
Also speaking, Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, described Saro-Wiwa as a man of peace who was unjustly killed for defending his people and their environment from reckless oil extraction.
“The Ogoni Bill of Rights, presented to the Nigerian government in 1990, remains largely unimplemented. Pollution continues, and communities remain unsafe,” Bassey said, criticising government’s continued emphasis on oil production over environmental restoration and renewable energy investment.
