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N45bn Compensation: Ogoni leaders joyful, says Saro-Wiwa didn’t die in vain
Modupe Shodeinde
Reacting to the Federal High Court judgement which ordered multinational oil giant, Shell, to pay the sum of N45.9 billion, the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State said it is a fulfillment of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s prophecy.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP Friday, an environmental activist and leader of Ogoni Peoples Assembly (OPA), Comrade Celestine Akpobari, said the ruling was a fulfillment of the struggle and prophesy of slain environmentalist; Dr Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Akpobari said, ‘We are happy that a Nigerian Court could give such a judgement but that amount cannot be compared to the damages caused by Shell in Ogoni.
“The ruling is a fulfillment of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s prophecy that the company’s day in the dock will surely come.”
President-general of Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Legborsi Yamaabana, also said the judgement was a pointer that Shell was really on trial.
Yamaabana said, “We are very satisfied that the court has compelled Shell to pay the people of Ejamah community in Eleme local government area, the sum of 45 billion dollars as compensation for the damage done to the environment.
“So, for us Ogoni youths, we are fully satisfied with the judgement and we urge shell to, within 21 days, as pronounced by the court, release the said money to the community, otherwise, we’ll be forced to embark on other necessary action.”
