President Bola Tinubu has granted a full posthumous presidential pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists
President Bola Tinubu has granted a full posthumous presidential pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, known as the Ogoni Nine, nearly three decades after their execution under General Sani Abacha’s military regime. The pardon was announced on June 12, 2025, during a joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate Democracy Day.
*The Ogoni Nine:*
– *Ken Saro-Wiwa*: Environmental activist and writer who led the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)
– *Saturday Dobee*
– *Nordu Eawo*
– *Daniel Gbooko*
– *Paul Levera*
– *Felix Nuate*
– *Baribor Bera*
– *Barinem Kiobel*
– *John Kpuine*
Tinubu also conferred posthumous national honors on the Ogoni Nine, with Saro-Wiwa receiving the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and the others receiving Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). The pardon and recognition are seen as a step towards healing historical wounds and acknowledging the sacrifices made by the Ogoni Nine in their fight against environmental degradation and human rights abuses.
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has welcomed the pardon, describing it as a historic and courageous act of national reckoning. However, MOSOP has also urged President Tinubu to go further by initiating a process for the full exoneration of the Ogoni Nine, potentially through a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
