Members of the House, who had considered a bill on the status of the Rivers State Polytechnic, poured encomiums of Saro-Wiwa believed to have been murdered by the late General Sani Abacha military regime.
The bill, which had been passed into law by 25 members, sought to rename the tertiary institution from Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, to Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic.
Member representing Port Harcourt Constituency, Mr. Jones Ogbonda, described him (Saro-Wiwa) as a man of integrity who deserved to be honoured.
“He was primarily an author, a businessman, who impacted on many lives in Ogoniland and the entire Nigeria. He affected lives as he was instrumental to the award of scholarships to our people.
“Nigeria murdered sleep and sleep eluded it when Saro-Wiwa was murdered. Even after his death, a proposal to befit his death was refused by the then military junta. The Nigerian state also refused to honour him, but he was honoured by the United Nations.
“This was a man that his people rejected, but the international community took away the shame from him and gave him recognition” Ogboda lamented while thanking the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for giving late Sara-Wiwa honour and recognition.
Also, Messrs Isreal Mguelo (Gokana), Deeyah (Khana 1) and Loolo Deebari (Khana 2) recalled that as a foremost commissioner for Education in the state, Saro-Wiwa ensured that Rivers people were in the front burner educationally.
The lawmakers said the late activist fought for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, noting that Saro-Wiwa eschewed selfishness by not only fighting for the rights of Ogoni people, but the entire Niger Delta.
In his remark, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Ikunyi Ibani, maintained that the late Ogoni leader had done well during his lifetime and deserved honour.
“If any of us is able to lead his people very well, and serve as a beacon of hope to his people and the state in a way that the people would not forget, it is also necessary to recognise such people,” the Speaker added.
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