GERMANY: Nigerians honour Ken Saro-Wiwa’s memory in Cologne

TO mark the 25th anniversary of the martyrdom of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the rest of the Ogoni Nine, a demonstration took place in Cologne, Germany, organised by Pay Day Africa. It was attended, amongst others, by many Nigerians, Africans and members of the environmental watch organisation, Green Peace.

Among the speakers who addressed the crowd were Peter Donatus, Che Chidi Chukwumerije and Ade Bantu.

The theme was centred around the continued economic neo-imperialism in Africa, orchestrated by international interests, with the cooperation of corrupt African systems, leaders and enablers. This was same cocktail of corruption against which Ken Saro-Wiwa fought and as a result of which he paid with his life.

The demonstration, under the watchful eye of the German Police, took place in front of a Shell Petrol, as a symbolic expression the continued pressure on Shell as an corporate body perceived to be complicit in Ken Saro-Wiwa’s murder, as well as in the continued rape and degradation of Africa’s resources and environment. To cover up, they are often accused of spending millions of dollars to clean up their image.