By Amanabo Ocholi
News Update in Nigeria Today | The Bureau News
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting a posthumous presidential pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists executed in 1995 under the military regime of General Sani Abacha. However, MOSOP is also urging the President to go further by formally exonerating the activists to erase the “stain of injustice.”
During his 2025 Democracy Day address, President Tinubu announced a full pardon for the nine environmental and human rights campaigners—collectively known as the Ogoni 9—describing their execution as a national tragedy that should never have occurred.
A Step Toward Healing, but More Needed — MOSOP
In a statement signed by Fegalo Nsuke, President of MOSOP, the group described the presidential pardon as “historic and a positive step toward healing.” However, MOSOP emphasized that pardon alone suggests guilt, whereas the Ogoni 9 were victims of a deeply flawed and politically motivated process.
“While the presidential pardon is significant and considered a vital milestone that opens the door to deeper restorative measures, a pardon, by its very nature, implies the existence of an offense,” Nsuke stated.
The executed activists—Ken Saro-Wiwa, Dr. Nubari Kiobel, Nordu Eawo, Saturday Doobe, John Kpuinen, Paul Levura, Daniel Gbokoo, Felix Nuate, and Baribor Bera—were convicted by a military tribunal widely criticized for lacking due process. Their deaths sparked international outrage and led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth in 1995.
Call for Full Exoneration and Judicial Inquiry
MOSOP has appealed to President Tinubu to take an additional bold step by formally exonerating the Ogoni 9 and establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to repudiate the 1995 tribunal’s irregularities.
“Exoneration would be a stronger moral and legal correction, ensuring that their names are no longer burdened by the stain of injustice,” the statement read.
The group believes this final act of justice will not only bring full closure to a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history but also cement President Tinubu’s legacy as a leader of both courage and conscience.
“This administration has taken a bold step. History will surely honour it even more for completing the journey toward full justice,” Nsuke concluded.
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