Ogoni 9: Buhari Considers State Pardon For Late Ken Saro-Wiwa, Others

Ogoni 9: Buhari Considers State Pardon For Late Ken Saro-Wiwa, Others

  • President Muhammadu Buhari has hinted on possible clemency for Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activitsts
  • The activists were killed in 1995 by the General Sani Abacha regime following protest on the operating practices of the Royal Dutch Shell oil company
  • According to President Buhari, the incident that led to the killing of the activist and his colleagues are still indelible in the hearts of Nigerians

Late environmentalist and activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa may be receiving a posthumous state pardon 26-years after his passing.

This was hinted at by President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting with some Ogoni leaders at the Presidential Villa on Friday, October 22.

Punch reports that the president had met with the leaders and during their discussion, he described the events that led to the kill of Saro-Wiwa and the eight others - Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine - as an unfortunate incident.

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According to the president, the playwright and the eight others could receive a posthumous state pardon.

Buhari said: 

“We are committed to ensuring clemency and national integration as part of this Administration’s bid to lay the foundation for genuine reconciliation and bring closure to the issues of Ogoni land."

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He added that the killing of Saro-Wiwa and others remain indelible in the hearts of Nigerians.

The president also assured that his administration would help the Ogoni people get closure on the past grievances and bring them close to the federation.

He said: 

“Despite the grievous circumstances, the Federal Government will consider the request for the grant of pardon to finally close the Ogoni saga."

The playwright with eight others from Ogoni land protested against the operating practices of the Royal Dutch Shell oil company. 

They were however executed by the late General Sani Abacha’s regime on trumped-up charges in 1995.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a former inmate, Ibrahim Abdullahi, had described how Saro-Wiwa and other environmentalists were killed and disposed of in 1995 by the Sani Abacha regime.

Abdullahi said he and his colleagues took the corpses of Saro-Wiwa and the others to a place where acid was poured on them.

He also noted that he was in prison with a former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani and late Musa Yar'Adua.

Source: Legit.ng

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