THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020024
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Tears flooded my eyes as I read recently about the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa by the Nigerian military junta. It pained me deeply that it took such a tragedy before the world media could expose the atrocities being committed in the most populous country in Africa.
I grew up in Nigeria, reading Ken Saro Wiwa's books; watching his television programs; respecting his courage in speaking out against injustice and corruption. I love that country of mine, and with people like Wiwa around I had always believed there was hope. Now I doubt it.
For some years there has been the need to save Nigeria from its military. It is a task bigger than the Nigerian people can accomplish all alone. In 1993, the helpless Nigerian people elected Chief M.K.O. Abiola their president in the first free election since Independence. But instead of handing over power to the elected president, the military put him in jail.
At present, no one cares about the plight of Chief M.K.O. Abiola and other democracy activists languishing in jails across Nigeria. Nations across the world continue to sell arms to the military juntas in exchange for crude oil.
Evidently, the stability of the world crude-oil market is more important than saving the souls of children of Nigeria from its military. That is why no nation is talking about imposing a trade embargo.
The difference between Nigeria today and Haiti in 1992 is that the United States did not want to accommodate more and more Haitian refugees. But the United States does wish to maintain the constant flow of Nigeria's crude oil. Invariably, the need for democracy and the rule of law are secondary. The tragedy of the Nigerian people is that their interest is in conflict with the interest of the international community.
RUDOLF OGOO OKONKWO
Chesapeake, Nov. 11, 1995 by CNB