The family of Ken Saro-Wiwa has said that it acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon and the conferment of national honours on the late writer and eight others.
In a statement signed by the daughter of the activist and chair of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation, Noo Saro-Wiwa, on Friday, the family said: “The family of Ken Saro-Wiwa acknowledges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon and the conferment of national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbokoo, Paul Levura, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen and Ledum Mitee.
“We appreciate the conferment of Commander Order of the Niger (CON) on our father and OON on the other eight Ogoni activists in recognition of their peaceful campaign for environmental justice, political and human rights in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
“We want to believe that the conferment of these national honours symbolizes the innocence of these heroes and further reinforces the global view that the judgement given almost 30 years ago was flawed and their execution considered to be judicial murder.
“In fact, our father and his compatriots were innocent and peaceful activists who drew the attention of the world to the plight of the Ogoni people who suffered environmental devastation due to oil drilling by Shell.
“While thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for doing the right thing, we further request a review of the judicial proceedings leading to the erroneous judgement, which occasioned such a colossal loss to our family, the Ogoni people and concerned Nigerians.
“Such a review will heal all wounds and ensure that further miscarriages of justice are not continuously visited on persons protesting their fundamental rights as guaranteed in the Constitution. We believe that this review will lead to a complete exoneration of our heroes.”
