Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution warns betrayers of consequences

By Kingsley Ikechukwu

Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution remains one of Nigeria’s most tragic and controversial moments.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) revealed that his life, activism, and betrayal hold powerful lessons for those who undermine their people’s struggle for liberation.

Ken Saro-Wiwa was a writer, activist, and environmentalist who fought against the exploitation of the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta.

He demanded that the people whose land produced Nigeria’s oil wealth should receive a fair share of the benefits.

His advocacy for justice and environmental protection brought him into conflict with Nigeria’s military government under General Sani Abacha.

Saro-Wiwa had once been close to Abacha and served in various government positions, including as an administrator of Bonny.

He was also appointed a commissioner in Rivers State, gaining political influence within the Nigerian system.

However, when he turned to activism and demanded environmental justice for Ogoni land, he became an enemy of the state.

His arrest, trial, and execution shocked the international community, which widely condemned the Nigerian government’s actions.

Many people do not realize that Saro-Wiwa had a history of political maneuvering before his execution.

During the Nigerian Civil War, he helped Nigerian forces infiltrate Biafran territory, leading to significant military victories.

His deep knowledge of the region and connections allowed Nigerian soldiers to bypass strong Biafran defenses undetected.

His assistance to the Nigerian military earned him political appointments and access to abandoned properties after the war.

Saro-Wiwa believed that his past loyalty to the Nigerian government would secure him a stake in the nation’s wealth.

However, his demand for justice and a share of oil resources turned the military government against him.

The moment he started asking about oil revenues, his fate was sealed by those in power.

Saro-Wiwa’s last moments before execution

On the day of his execution, Ken Saro-Wiwa was in disbelief about his impending death.

He expected his sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment at the last minute.

When the soldiers came for him, he desperately asked if Abacha was aware of his execution.

He resisted being taken to the execution ground, believing that a reprieve would arrive.

In his desperation, he reminded his captors of his past friendship with Abacha.

He spoke about their time together in Port Harcourt and their frequent tennis matches in the 1970s.

He believed that if Abacha knew about his execution, he would intervene to save him.

The officer in charge showed him the execution order signed by Abacha himself.

Saro-Wiwa dismissed the order as fake and demanded an immediate audience with Abacha.

His pleas were ignored as the soldiers remained focused on carrying out their orders.

As he was dragged to the execution site, he continued begging for his life.

His eyes filled with tears as he screamed for divine intervention.

He questioned why he had to die for asking that his people receive a fair share of their resources.

At that moment, he believed the executioners might change their minds and spare him.

However, his fate had already been decided, and no one could reverse the order.

The soldiers tied him up, and he was executed despite his desperate pleas for mercy.

Aftermath of his execution

Following his execution, his body was reportedly dissolved in acid to prevent any burial or memorial.

The Nigerian government wanted to erase his memory and discourage others from demanding justice.

The Oputa panel later investigated the circumstances surrounding his execution.

A soldier testifying at the panel confirmed that Saro-Wiwa’s remains were completely dissolved.

His tragic fate sent a chilling message to activists and dissenters across the country.

His story remains a reminder of the dangers of challenging a corrupt and oppressive system.

A warning for today’s leaders

The story of Ken Saro-Wiwa serves as a cautionary tale for those in positions of power today.

He once believed that his past service to the Nigerian government would protect him.

However, the same system he once supported turned against him when he demanded justice.

This should serve as a warning to leaders like Asari Dokubo and Nyesom Wike.

Aligning with powerful figures does not guarantee permanent security or protection.

History has shown that betrayers are often discarded when they become inconvenient to those in power.

The irony of betrayal

Saro-Wiwa’s story is filled with irony and bitter lessons.

During the Biafran War, he helped defeat his neighbors, believing he had a secure place in Nigeria.

Yet, when he needed help, the same Nigerian government he served abandoned him.

Before his arrest, he sought assistance from Igbo leaders, including Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

It was during this plea for help that Ojukwu reportedly responded with “Okokorokoooo.”

The phrase symbolized the futility of Saro-Wiwa’s efforts to seek protection from those he once opposed.

His past actions had come back to haunt him, proving that history never forgets betrayal.

Even after his death, his son, Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., died young in 2016 after suffering a stroke.

Final thoughts

Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution was not just about silencing an activist.

It was a calculated move to send a warning to anyone challenging Nigeria’s corrupt elite.

His tragic end is a lesson to those who put personal ambition above their people’s struggles.

History has shown that those who betray their people often face dire consequences.

No position of power or privilege can protect betrayers when their usefulness ends.

Saro-Wiwa’s fate serves as a permanent warning—betray your people at your own peril.

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