22/11/94

Dear Sr. M,

Greetings. I hope you did get back safely with all that load of work I inflicted on you. You can see how much needed you were in Nigeria! You are truly a God-send. I had hoped that you would leave behind a few thoughts for me before your departure, but you must have been very busy.
In the continuing Ogoni Saga, you must have heard of the setting up of a military tribunal to try us—under a brand new Decree which we have not yet been able to see. The 3-man Tribunal has been named and were to have been sworn in yesterday (Monday 21/11). It’s really a hangman’s work. Our only hope is that the international community may be able, diplomatically, to frighten Abacha out of any mischief as they did with the Treason and Treasonable Felony Decree 1993 which was aimed specifically at me and the Ogoni people. This is terribly sickening. Shell are finally suc­ceeding, it would appear, in shutting me up. But that will surely not be the end of the matter.

I understand Glen Ellis is in Oxford at this time. I hope that you have been able to make contact with him in regard of the Right Livelihood Award function. Barika [Idamkue] and Batom Mitee will be going for us, since I and Ledum Mitee cannot get there. I expect that my cousin, Dr Vincent Idemyor, who’s head of MOSOP in the U.S.A., will be there with his Sr. [sister], Bridget and that some of the people in London will be able to go too, along with my children (if they desire to travel). One of the activists (probably Godwin Poi from London) should read the Acceptance Speech—and not my son as I had earlier indicated.^[1]

I hope that you have been able to put the things for the exhibition together and that all will go well. I wish you the very best and in case I do not get to you before Xmas, wish you a Merry Xmas, & a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Ken.