Yesterday’s full posthumous pardon of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other Ogoni activists by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has drawn wide acclaim from Niger Delta leaders.
The President pardoned and honoured them with national awards nearly three decades after their execution by the Abacha military regime on November 10, 1995.
President Tinubu announced the pardon while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja as part of the events commemorating Democracy Day.
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Pan Niger Delta (PANDEF), the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) and others hailed the President, saying the gesture would deepen the peace process in the Niger Delta.
In addition to the presidential pardon, President Tinubu conferred national honours on all nine men.
Saro-Wiwa received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), while the others were each awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
The other honourees are Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
“I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine, and his fellow travellers.
“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 Council of State,” the President said.
The nine were executed after undergoing military tribunal trial which pronounced them guilty.
The executions, which drew widespread international condemnation, were carried out despite pleas for clemency from global leaders, including then-South African President Nelson Mandela, U.S. President Bill Clinton, and the United Nations.
The men were convicted of the murder of four pro-government Ogoni chiefs, a charge many believed to be politically motivated due to their non-violent campaign against environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
Led by Saro-Wiwa, a renowned writer and environmental activist, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) had decried the destruction of their land and livelihoods by oil exploration activities, particularly those of multinational companies.
The group’s advocacy for environmental justice and resource control put them at odds with the Abacha regime, ultimately resulting in the arrest and execution of its leaders.
Over the years, various Ogoni delegations had appealed to successive Nigerian presidents to revisit the case and restore the legacy of the slain activists through a presidential pardon and public recognition.
While several symbolic gestures were made, yesterday’s announcement is the first official act granting a full pardon and national honours.
Excitement in Niger Delta
There was jubilation in the Niger Delta yesterday.
INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba; National Spokesman of PANDEF, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini; President, MOSIEND, Kennedy Tonjo-West; former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri; Chairman, Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community (AHRC), Clifford Thomas; and ex-PANDEF Publicity Secretary, Dr Ken Robinson, welcomed the honour done to the Ogone Nine.
But, Ogoni-born activist, Celestine Akpobari, said they expected the President to exonerate the Ogoni Nine, insisting that they committed no crime to warrant a state pardon.
Okaba said the gesture was “an important step towards acknowledging the supreme sacrifices of these national iconic heroes in their fight against environmental injustice and the abuse of human rights”.
He praised President Tinubu for “his willingness to rectify the injustices and other societal wrongs of the past”.
“In fact, the pardon symbolises healing and reconciliation for the Ogoni people and the entire nation, and underscores the value of democracy and human rights,” Okaba added.
Ominimini said the pardon and awards showed that there was “light at the end of the tunnel for Niger Deltans”.
He said: “This conferrment has gone to show that democracy is thriving very well in Nigeria.
“This has gone to show that there shall be light at the end of the tunnel for the people of the Niger Delta.
“We thank President Tinubu for giving pardon to these noble men who lived good lives and died for a good cause. Thank you, Mr. President!”
Thomas described the gesture as a victory for democracy and justice for the Ogoni people.
He said with the gesture, the spirits of the Ogoni Nine could finally rest in peace.
Thomas added: “It is an indication that Ken Saro Wiwa and his companions fought for a just cause even though they were vilified and killed unjustly.
“We are highly elated and impressed that the President has finally heeded our request. This is quite commendable. It is a victory for democracy and the Ogoni people.”
Eradiri believes honour and pardon would further deepen the peace process in the Niger Delta.
He said: “He has just further affirmed his resolve for peace in the Niger Delta through the posthumous awards.”
Tonjo-West said the decision remained one of the best inclusive actions the administration had taken so far.
Robinson described the gesture as an olive branch and urged the Ogoni people “to accept fully the President’s kind gesture”.
But Akpobari said the Ogoni people demanded exoneration from the criminal trial that led to their conviction and execution, and not a state pardon.
He insisted that the Ogoni slain leaders, referred to as the Martyrs, never committed any offence that would warrant pardon.
“We asked that they be exonerated from all criminal charges, not pardon, as they never committed any offence.
“You only pardon someone who committed an offence,” he argued.
