The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for awarding a posthumous national honour to the executed writer Ken Saro-Wiwa today, however saying only “full exoneration” would suffice.
Saro-Wiwa, a writer and human rights activist who campaigned against environmental degradation as a result of oil exploitation in the Ogoni land of the Niger Delta region, was executed together with eight others by the Abacha regime on November 10, 1995 after a military tribunal found them guilty of the murder of four Ogoni leaders in early 1994.
He was the fourth president of ANA.
President Tinubu, in his 2025 Democracy Day speech, awarded him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), as well as the honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) to the eight other members of the Ogoni Nine.
In a message signed today by the National President of ANA, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, and General Secretary, Dr. Dame Joan Oji, the association said: “It will be recalled that at our 43rd Convention in November 2024, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) established a writers’ residency in memory and honour of the illustrious author and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, the fourth President of our Association. This initiative was hailed by Saro-Wiwa’s family and the media.
“During the inauguration of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Writers’ Residency, Dr Owens Wiwa appealed to ANA to sustain its efforts towards securing full exoneration for Saro-Wiwa from wrongful trial, conviction, and tragic execution 30 years ago. ANA has remained steadfast in its commitment to this cause.
“We are, thus, grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for conferring posthumous national honour on Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots on the occasion of the 2025 Democracy Day Address.
“President Tinubu has also promised to grant a pardon to Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots. That is inadequate and it presupposes that the Ogoni Nine were convicted through a fair trial. The world acknowledges that they were judicially murdered by a kangaroo tribunal and pariah government.
“Thus, ANA advises that only full exoneration and compensation to the families of the Ogoni Nine can be seen to be just under a democracy. A pardon will amount to a perpetuation of injustice in disguise; full exoneration and compensation is the proper thing to do.
“We urge President Tinubu to walk the whole mile and right the wrong that the Nigerian State has done to the Ogoni Nine.
“God bless Nigeria.”
In a related development, the Ogoni Youth Advancement Network (OYAN) also expressed appreciation for Tinubu’s gesture and called for further steps to exenorate the Ogoni Nine.
In a press release issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the chairperson of the group, Ewunee Confidence Dumka, the OYAN expressed “profound gratitude and commendation for the momentous decision by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to posthumously award the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) to the eight other members of the Ogoni Nine.”
The group said: “This landmark action is further enhanced by the granting of a Presidential Pardon to all nine, alongside the award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) to the living martyr, Barr. Ledum Mitee, former President of MOSOP.”
It added: “This truly historic and symbolic act represents a significant stride towards justice and reconciliation for the Ogoni people and the broader Niger Delta region. The recognition of the Ogoni Nine, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in their unwavering pursuit of environmental justice and human rights, is a powerful acknowledgement of their enduring legacy.
“We are deeply thankful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this commendable action.
“For decades, the sacrifice of the Ogoni Nine has served as a beacon of resistance against environmental degradation and human rights abuses in the Niger Delta.
“This posthumous award and pardon not only honors their memory but also validates the justness of their cause and the profound impact of their activism.”
The Ogoni Youth Advancement Network said it viewed the presidential gesture as a critical step in healing old wounds and fostering a renewed sense of hope and belonging among the Ogoni people.
“It sends a strong message that the sacrifices made for a better, more just environment and society will not be forgotten,” it said.
“While celebrating this significant step, OYAN also fervently calls for the complete exoneration of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight members of the Ogoni Nine. A pardon, while appreciated, acknowledges conviction.
“However, their execution followed a process widely criticized for its lack of due process and fairness. True justice and full reconciliation demand a clear declaration of their innocence, clearing their names completely from the allegations that led to their demise.
“Exoneration would definitively acknowledge the profound injustices they suffered and truly affirm their legacy as heroes rather than merely pardoned individuals.
“Furthermore, for genuine and comprehensive peace and reconciliation in Ogoni land, OYAN respectfully urges the Presidency to also confirm posthumous awards on the Ogoni Four (elites & chiefs) – those tragically murdered, an event that regrettably led to the judicial killing of the Ogoni Nine.
“Recognizing the Ogoni Four with national honors would demonstrate a holistic commitment to healing and acknowledging all victims of the past conflicts, paving the way for lasting peace and unity within the Ogoni nation.
“OYAN remains committed to advancing the cause of environmental justice, sustainable development, and human rights in the Niger Delta, building upon the foundation laid by these heroes.
“We believe this act of reconciliation by the Nigerian government, coupled with our call for full exoneration and further recognition, provides a vital impetus for continued dialogue and collaborative efforts towards a truly sustainable and equitable future for the Ogoni land and its people.
“We call upon all stakeholders, including government agencies, multinational corporations, and civil society organizations, to leverage this moment of reconciliation to redouble efforts towards the comprehensive clean-up of Ogoniland and the implementation of policies that prevent future environmental injustices.”
