- Tinubu Grants Posthumous Pardon To Ken Saro-Wiwa, Ogoni Nine.
- National honours conferred on all members of the Ogoni Nine.
- Move aims to reconcile historic injustice and restore dignity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a full posthumous pardon to environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others known as the Ogoni Nine, nearly three decades after their execution under the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the announcement was made on Thursday during President Tinubu’s address to a joint session of the National Assembly as part of the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations.
In his speech, Tinubu said the pardon would be granted under his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy, in collaboration with the National Council of State. He also conferred national honours on each of the Ogoni Nine.
“Furthermore, I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine and his fellow travellers — Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON),” the President stated.
He added, “I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State.”
Ken Saro-Wiwa, a prominent writer and environmental activist, was arrested, tried, and executed in 1995 alongside eight other Ogoni leaders for allegedly masterminding the murder of four pro-government chiefs. Their trial and hanging by the Abacha regime sparked widespread global condemnation and led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth for over three years.
The presidential pardon and national recognition are being seen as a historic step in healing long-standing wounds and restoring the dignity of the Ogoni Nine.
