Matthew Parris
Spectator and Times columnist
One evening in 1995 some friends brought a friend to dinner at my flat. His name was Julian, and he seemed rather bright.
As it happened, the Nigerian ecological campaigner and fighter for rights of the Ogoni people, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was in prison having been convicted on trumped-up charges of incitement to murder. His case had become an international cause célèbre. His conviction carried the death penalty; and he was widely believed to face death by hanging. I was in full ‘old African hand’ mode, and announced to the table that I knew the ‘African mindset’ too well to believe Saro-Wiwa would actually be executed, now that the eyes of the world were on Nigeria.
In a matter-of-fact manner, my guest, Julian, replied: ‘Actually he was hanged earlier this afternoon.’ He did so without hesitation or apology.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in