The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYREP) has said it would honour the memories of the Ogoni 13 including late playwright and environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, who lost their lives in the struggle for a better Ogoniland.
This was disclosed by the newly-appointed Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr Ferdinand Giadom at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Monday.
Giadom said the 13 martyrs would be the first consideration in all decisions that HYPREP would take in order to honour their memories and give their families a sense of belonging.
According to him, “For the families of Ogoni 13 and people that actually laid down their lives so that we could live today, we say that these projects will not leave you behind.
“You will be part of everything that we are doing because we know that you laid down the choicest blood that can be found in any part of Africa.
“We will at all times respect their memories. In fact and indeed, that should be the first consideration in all decisions that we are going to take. We will not abuse their memory by doing what is not right.”
The coordinator said any attempt to squander the funds released to it for the cleanup of Ogoni land in Rivers State would be equivalent to abusing the memories of the Ogoni martyrs.
He maintained that the HYREP project is committed to ensuring that the success to be achieved would last through generations.
“We will not abuse their memories by squandering these funds. We will not abuse their memories by not being interested and committed to this process.
“When we are demanding for things, let us always remember that people died for us to live. The only way we can honour their memory is to make sure this project succeeds.
“Not only succeeding for today, but succeeding for future generations; not only for them, but the many people who died for this course,” Giadom added.
