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Washington Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Nigerian leader's pardon of executed Ogoni activists draws criticisms
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has posthumously pardoned nine environmental activists executed 30 years ago by the then-ruling military junta, drawing sharp criticism and anger from activists who argued on Friday that the individuals committed no crime. During an event Thursday to mark the 26th anniversary of Nigeria's return to democracy, Tinubu pardoned the 'Ogoni Nine,' including celebrated writer Ken Saro-Wiwa , and described them as 'national heroes.'
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Nigerian leader's pardon of executed Ogoni activists draws criticisms
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has posthumously pardoned nine environmental activists executed 30 years ago by the then-ruling military junta, drawing sharp criticism and anger from activists who argued on Friday that the individuals committed no crime. During an event Thursday to mark the 26th anniversary of Nigeria's return to democracy, Tinubu pardoned the 'Ogoni Nine,' including celebrated writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, and described them as 'national heroes.' The men were convicted of murdering four local chiefs and were hanged in 1995 by the then-military regime led by Gen. Sani Abacha. They were part of the Ogoni ethnic group in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, and had protested environmental pollution in the region by multinational oil companies, particularly Shell. Their trial and murder sparked international outrage at the time, with rights groups calling it unjust and lacking credible evidence. Local rights and civil society groups described Tinubu's pardon as misleading and 'insulting.' 'A pardon is given to people who have been convicted of wrongdoing," said Ken Henshaw, executive director of local rights group We The People. Henshaw said the process leading to their execution did not prove that they were guilty of the allegations against them. 'For him (Tinubu) to say he wants to pardon them is a misnomer,' he added. The Nigerian government must also recognize formally that the murdered activists are 'innocent of any crime and fully exonerate them,' said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria's director. 'Full justice for the Ogoni Nine is only a first step," said Sanusi. 'Much more needs to be done to get justice for communities in the Niger Delta, including holding Shell and other oil companies to account for the damage they have done and continue to do.' ____
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Nigerian leader's pardon of executed Ogoni activists draws criticisms
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has posthumously pardoned nine environmental activists executed 30 years ago by the then-ruling military junta, drawing sharp criticism and anger from activists who argued on Friday that the individuals committed no crime. During an event Thursday to mark the 26th anniversary of Nigeria's return to democracy, Tinubu pardoned the 'Ogoni Nine,' including celebrated writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, and described them as 'national heroes.' The men were convicted of murdering four local chiefs and were hanged in 1995 by the then-military regime led by Gen. Sani Abacha. They were part of the Ogoni ethnic group in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, and had protested environmental pollution in the region by multinational oil companies, particularly Shell. Their trial and murder sparked international outrage at the time, with rights groups calling it unjust and lacking credible evidence. Local rights and civil society groups described Tinubu's pardon as misleading and 'insulting.' 'A pardon is given to people who have been convicted of wrongdoing,' said Ken Henshaw, executive director of local rights group We The People. Henshaw said the process leading to their execution did not prove that they were guilty of the allegations against them. 'For him (Tinubu) to say he wants to pardon them is a misnomer,' he added. The Nigerian government must also recognize formally that the murdered activists are 'innocent of any crime and fully exonerate them,' said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria's director. 'Full justice for the Ogoni Nine is only a first step,' said Sanusi. 'Much more needs to be done to get justice for communities in the Niger Delta, including holding Shell and other oil companies to account for the damage they have done and continue to do.' ____ Follow AP's Africa coverage at:
News24
15 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
‘It is insulting': Nigerian president's pardon of 'Ogoni Nine' draws ethnic group's rejection
Ogoni activists criticised President Bola Tinubu's posthumous pardon of the 'Ogoni Nine,' including Ken Saro-Wiwa, calling it 'insulting' and demanding full exoneration instead of pardon. Activists argue that Shell's pollution in the oil-rich Niger Delta remains unresolved and that Tinubu's push to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland underscores ongoing environmental and community injustices. The executions of the Ogoni Nine sparked global outrage, and the Niger Delta's environmental devastation continues to highlight the broader economic and ethical tensions in Nigeria's reliance on oil revenues. 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 12 June, 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.
Reuters
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
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.
