As part of the 2025 Democracy Day commemorations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a full presidential pardon to the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others collectively known as the *Ogoni Nine*. The announcement was made on Thursday during a national address to mark the occasion.
In a symbolic move aimed at national reconciliation, the president also conferred posthumous national honours on the Ogoni Nine, who were executed in 1995 under the military regime of late General Sani Abacha following a controversial trial linked to the murder of four Ogoni leaders.
The activists, including Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine, had been prominent voices against environmental degradation and marginalization in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
President Tinubu further extended national honours to other notable figures, including the late Kudirat Abiola, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Bola Ige, and former Nigerian President Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, describing them as nationalists whose sacrifices laid the foundation for Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The president’s action fulfills a commitment made in November 2024 to heal historical wounds and bridge longstanding grievances across the country.
The recognition of the Ogoni Nine and other national heroes comes amid Tinubu’s continued emphasis on inclusive governance and historical justice, underscoring June 12 as a symbol of Nigeria’s enduring democratic spirit.
