Activists and How Nigerians Perceive Them, By Abiodun Fadumo
Activist broadcasting socially conscious message
It baffles one to think that the people will find it even comfortable to label those risking everything to fight for the common good. How on earth can someone who fights for the people’s emancipation be regarded by the same people as an enemy?
“At the end of the day, I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. If that makes me an outlaw, so be it. I’ve been called worse.”
― Angela Parkhurst
It is still widely reported that Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed while fighting for his Ogoni people. I have read many articles from local and international news platforms and journals; nowhere in these has he been accused of selfishness. The question that bothers me most is: Why was it easy for General Sanni Abacha to order the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995? What roles did Nigerians and the international community play that either or both indirectly enabled this act or that could have prevented it?