Following the statement credited to the former Federal Capital Territory Minister to Gen Sani Abacha, Brigadier-General Jeremiah Useni (rtd), that the execution of former Ogoni leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa and other eight Ogonis was justified for the national interest, some Niger Deltans have reacted.
The reaction came from the National President of Ogoni Youth Council, Marvin Yobana, who said the statement was irresponsible and capable of derailing the peace process in the region.
In his word: “The statement is regrettable, irresponsible and has exposed the sycophancy of the former FCT minister. All the period he was the FCT minister, he encouraged Abacha to perpetuate his evil act.
“No wonder he led the late Abacha to his death. That statement is irresponsible, careless, malicious and show complicity in the gruesome murder of the great Niger Delta peace loving non-violent fallen heroes”, he stated.
He called on Useni to render an unreserved apology to the Ogonis or face legal action.
According to him, “what the Ogonis are demanding for is an unreserved apology from Jerry Useni. We are asking him to unconditionally apologise to Ogoni people within seven days or we will be left with no other option than to resort to all necessary legal steps in addressing that careless and insensitive statement.
Yobana who is a United Nations ambassador of peace and the vice president of the South-South National Youth Council of Nigeria pointed out that Nigeria was hurt by the killing of Saro-Wiwa and eight others, which attracted international sanctions.
He recalled that Jeremiah Useni justified the murder of the Ogoni leader and eight others on the pages of newspapers.