Justice Was Screaming—But We Were Busy Whispering About Betrayal

 

Why do Nigerians abandon the relevant to chase the irrelevant? Why does our focus shift from right to wrong? Why do we condemn so easily, yet rarely appreciate? 

Recently, a Nigerian Artist, Ayra Starr, released a song where she mentioned Ken Sarowiwa. A man who stood against injustice and paid a high price. 

Ken Sarowiwa and the Ogoni nine were framed and executed for defending their people. Yet somehow, some Nigerians despise him, not for what he fought for, but for a rumored betrayal.

Some people talk about the great injustice they suffered, and somewhere around that scream of injustice, there are whispers of condemnation. 

It is rumored that Ken Sarowiwa betrayed Ojukwu during Biafra’s fight for freedom. And because of this rumor, some said: 

“His death was a punishment for his betrayal.” 

And that leaves me in utter confusion. 

Why do we even do this? 

Why does truth scream, injustice scream, oppression scream, yet we ignore the screams and chase the whispers?

Amidst all these, you’ll find tribalism. A Nigerian fighting his brother because they speak differently, forgetting they are United by one nation. 

Our celebrities aren’t spared. Once caught in a scandal, we turn against them and erase their good deeds. The whispers of controversy drown out the echoes of their impact. They become outcasts to the very people they once worked hard for. 

And our leaders? 

Even in the flawed system, some are genuinely trying to make Nigeria better. But we remember them for their flaws, not their impact. 

Mention a good leader, then bring up one scandal against him, and then you’ll see the “true colors” of Nigerians. The good turns to bad. Their reverence turns to hate. 

Even activists, those fighting for our rights and freedom, are judged not by their cause, but by whether we think they’re “worthy.” 

So I ask: 

• Does this mean we don’t want to be better? 

• Does a good future sound like poison to us? 

• What really are our true thoughts on injustice? 

• Why do we choose conflict, oppression, and division over peace? 

Ken Sarowiwa fought a good fight. He stood for the Ogoni people. He stood for justice but was executed unjustly. 

What was he fighting for?

 He demanded that Shell clean up the oil that poisoned their lands and rivers. He asked for compensation. 

 He asked for accountability. 

He was met with silence, and then, execution.

 

But some Nigerians decided to reduce this fight, his story, to a betrayal narrative. We didn’t just forget his fight; we replaced it with a rumor. We buried the truth and gave power to the oppressors. 

No one is holier than the other, but our sense of justice should guide us better. We must rethink how we remember people.

We must choose truth over gossip. We must remember that in unity we thrive, but in division, we collapse. 

This is a call for us to stop feeding distractions and start honoring legacies. To see the truth for what it is. To reduce tribalistic acts. To silence the noise of rumors. 

We owe it to ourselves and to those who struggle for us—to remember them rightly. 

This doesn’t just apply to people fighting for justice or the famous. Even in our little circles and environments, we should seek the truth. Because when we chase whispers, we risk wronging the innocent. 

Ken Sarowiwa’s case is a mirror. It reflects the injustice he suffered and the ignorance we still display. 

But remember this; 

Justice doesn’t whisper. It never does. It screams. And only those who pay attention will hear it.