10th November marks the memorial of a martyr. It is sad that we weren’t taught about him in history classes. I found some quotes of our true Nigerian Hero all over the cyber space and my heart felt pain. His quotes over 20 years after his death lit a fire in my heart. Oh Nigeria, what a loss. Nigeria needs Saro Wiwa’s to rise up and defend her honour, though I hope we do not get to lose anymore remarkable sons and daughters. It is comforting to know that the Casualties of the End SARS protest would be welcomed by a brother who fought for the same cause. Our right as citizens and a better Nigeria. He loved his country and was true to her, paying the ultimate sacrifice with a smile. Let us sing and shout of the story of Men who stood, Men who spoke and Men who gave their all. As we go through the quotes below I am certain a fire would be ignited! One that I hope would never go out. His words as hot coal even in death.
KEN SARO-WIWA’S 10 FAMOUS QUOTES
1.I am more dangerous dead than alive.
2. I’ve used my talents as a writer to enable the Ogoni People to confront their tormentors. I was not able to do it as a politician or a businessman. My writing did it. I think I have the moral victory.
3. As we subscribe to the sub-normal and accept double standards, as we lie and cheat openly, as we protect injustice and oppression, we empty our classrooms, denigrate our hospitals, fill our stomachs with hunger and elect to make ourselves the slaves of those who ascribe to higher standards.
4. The writer cannot be a mere storyteller; he cannot be a mere teacher; he cannot merely x-ray society’s weaknesses, its ills, its perils. He or she must be actively involved shaping its present and its future.
5. I tell you this, I may be dead but my ideas will not die.
6. The men who ordain and supervise this show of shame, this tragic charade, are frightened by the word, the power of ideas, the power of the pen.
7. I have no doubt about the ultimate success of my cause no matter the trials and tribulations which I and those who believe with me may encounter on our journey. Neither imprisonment nor death can stop our ultimate victory.
8. In this country (England], writers write to entertain, they raise questions of individual existence, but for a Nigerian writer in my position, you can’t go into that. Literature has to be combative.
9. Whether I live or die is immaterial. It is enough to know that there are people who commit time, money and energy to fight this one evil among so many others predominating worldwide. If they do not succeed today, they will succeed tomorrow.
10. Today is a “Black Day For A Black Man”
November 10 2021 makes it the 26 years since his murder. Drop your comments on what you think about his quotes in his honour and which one touched home for you. There are some people who truly never die. Son of the Delta! A soul hovering around to light up others who would make Nigeria great again.