Nigerian President Tinubu's pardon of 'Ogoni Nine' draws ethnic group's rejection
LAGOS, June 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Ogoni activists on Friday rejected a posthumous pardon for nine members executed three decades ago by a military dictatorship, criticising President Bola Tinubu's move as inadequate and perpetuating injustice.
To commemorate Nigeria's Democracy Day on June 12, Tinubu pardoned the men, known as the "Ogoni Nine", including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged after being tried by a military tribunal for their protests against Shell's pollution in the oil-rich Niger Delta, which is home to the Ogoni ethnic group.
The executions sparked international condemnation against Nigeria's then-military junta and continue to be a contentious issue in the nation's history.
"You cannot pardon someone that has not committed an offense; we are demanding total exoneration," said Celestine Akpobari, coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum.
"To say 'pardon', I think it is insulting. If there is any group who needs pardon, it is the Nigerian government that has committed so much crime against the Ogoni people," he told Reuters.
Tinubu's spokesperson rejected such criticism.
"The president has done what is normal. They can make an argument for exoneration and the president will look into it," Bayo Onanuga told Reuters.
Shell, which halted oil drilling in the area in the early 1990s and later sold its assets there, has denied any responsibility or wrongdoing.
Tinubu's efforts to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland have drawn fresh criticism from environmental activists.
Alagao Morris, deputy executive director of the Environmental Defenders Network, an interest group in the Niger Delta, said the pardon appeared to be an attempt to mollify the Ogoni people in the face of the region's continued environmental devastation.
"The pollution that ought to be addressed has not been addressed," Morris said. He said the issue of oil drilling should be decided by the Ogoni people, but the complete exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and other executed activists should come first.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, relies on oil for more than 90% of export earnings and around two-thirds of government earnings, exposing its economy to global price shocks.
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'Wetin we want na make goment clear dem, no be pardon' – Reactions follow presidential pardon for Ogoni 9
Esther Kiobel, wife of one of di Ogoni Nine, Barinem Kiobel say she thank President Tinubu say e don take di first step to give justice to di 'Ogoni 9'. She tok dis one afta Nigeria president Bola Tinubu for im independence day speech, grant presidential pardon to di famous Ogoni nine wey dem execute under di military rule of Lat e General Sani Abacha. Her tok follow di many reactions wey don follow di National honours and Presidential pardon wey Oga Tinubu grant grant on Thursday. Kiobel say e don reach many decades wey she don dey fight for justice for her husband and she believe say dis tin wey di President don do na a way forward. "I don dey fight for am [my husband] to dey exonerated becos di Abacha goment in collaboration wit Shell Oil kill dem. So I know say e don take long but I believe say justice go surely come to pass." Madam Kiobel say she go like make di Nigerian goment retry dat case as dem as families of di Ogoni 9 go through a lot and survive by di grace of God. "I dey alive becos na God dey keep me and my husband spirit sef dey help to keep me to make sure say we get justice becos e no commit any crime. Dat tin na injustice but we need justice." Kiobel widow say many nights she don shed tears for her bed wen she remember how most of di women die, plenti pipo die for dis cause and her husband life wey also bin dey cut short bifor im time. So justice to clear dia name naim dem want. 'Ogoni 9' na a group of nine activists from di Ogoni region of Rivers State for southern Nigeria, wey opposed di operating practices of di Royal Dutch Shell oil corporation for di Niger Delta region. Di military goment for Nigeria bin arrest and set up a special tribunal against dem for murders of four Ogoni chiefs - Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage, wey dem kill for Gokana. R. Boele, Ogoni. Social activist and head of di Movement for di Survival of di Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro-Wiwa, alongside eight of im fellow leaders - Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine—bin dey on trial under accuse say na dem incite di murder of di four Ogoni chiefs and na on 10 November 1995 di Nigerian Goment execute dem by hanging for Port Harcourt Prison. On democracy day June 12, 2025, Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a speech to a joint session of di National Assembly, grant Presidential pardon on di Ogoni Nine and confer on dem Posthumous National awards. 'Dem dey pardon pesin wey dey innocent?' Ogoni activist, Fegalo Nsuke say di act by di President na di first time any Nigerian President don acknowledge say a crime bin dey committed against di Ogoni Nine and so e praise di action of di President in giving dem such acknowledgement and granting dem a presidential pardon and national honours. "President Tinubu make a bold step wey I think suppose dey help us towards achieving a good healing process. Since 1995 when dis executions take place, no Nigerian President don admit say a wrongdoing bin happen. I must admit say yesterday President Tinubu don admit say dat na injustice and e go further to grant a state pardon." Fegalo Nsuke say while dem appreciate di goodwill of di president, a state pardon na sometin wey dem dey give pipo wey commit an offense and from all available information, di Ogoni Nine dey innocent as such dem wonder wetin di state pardon dey for. Oga Nsuke say wetin dem dey ask for na say beyond giving National honours on di Ogoni Nine, dem go like make di federal goment commission an enquiry into the trial process as dem insist say di decision to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa bin dey taken even bifor dem establish di tribunal. "Dat tribunal bin dey established primarily to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa becos im challenge di system wey bin dey exploit di Ogoni pipo and oda parts of di Niger Delta at di time and so di goment decide to kill am and in dat process, eight odas come fall victims. Also, environmental rights defender Celestine Akpobari say a pardon dey given to somebodi wey commit an offense. "Wetin di Ogoni pipo and human rights community dey ask for na exoneration. So I bin dey expect Mr President to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to do a review of dat kangaroo trial wey sentenced Ken to death. I bin dey expect say dat go happen and from dia dem go dey exonerated completely."
