President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a posthumous state pardon to the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders who were executed by the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during an address commemorating Nigeria’s 2025 Democracy Day. President Tinubu said the move was part of his administration’s commitment to national healing, justice, and reconciliation.
“The pain and injustice endured by Ken Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots remain a stain on our national conscience. Today, in the spirit of justice and national unity, I grant a posthumous presidential pardon to the Ogoni 9,” Tinubu declared.
The Ogoni 9, as they came to be known, were tried by a special military tribunal and executed on 10 November 1995 for allegedly inciting the murder of four Ogoni chiefs. Their trial and execution drew widespread international condemnation and led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and environmentalist, had led a peaceful campaign under the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), protesting the environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta and demanding fair compensation and autonomy for the Ogoni people.
Also Read: Wike Renames Rehabilitated International Conference Centre After President Tinubu
President Tinubu acknowledged that the injustices of the past could not be undone but said the pardon was intended to restore honour to those wrongfully punished for standing up for their people.
“This is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a reaffirmation that our democracy must uphold the principles of justice, human rights, and the dignity of every Nigerian,” the President said.
The decision was met with mixed reactions across the country. MOSOP, in a statement released shortly after the announcement, welcomed the pardon and called on the federal government to take further steps, including the implementation of environmental remediation in Ogoniland and broader constitutional reforms.
“We appreciate this long-overdue gesture. However, the true legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa will only be honoured when the ecological and economic injustices in the Niger Delta are fully addressed,” the statement read.
Families of the late activists have also expressed cautious optimism, with some calling for a full exoneration and official apology from the Nigerian state.
The posthumous pardon marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey and could serve as a catalyst for renewed dialogue on environmental justice, ethnic equality, and human rights.
