The Ogoni Youth Advancement Network (OYAN) has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to posthumously award national honours to environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other members of the Ogoni Nine, while calling for their complete exoneration rather than a presidential pardon.
Thank you for reading this post; don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
In a statement released Thursday, the youth organisation described the presidential action as “historic and symbolic,” representing a significant step toward justice and reconciliation for the Ogoni people and the broader Niger Delta region.
President Tinubu posthumously awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) to the eight other Ogoni Nine members. The president also granted presidential pardons to all nine activists and awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) to Barr. Ledum Mitee, former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
The Ogoni Nine were executed in 1995 under military rule after campaigning against environmental degradation in their homeland caused by oil extraction activities.
Chair of the Ogoni Youth Advancement Network, Ewunee Confidence, expressed gratitude for the recognition while noting the broader significance of the gesture.
“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,” Confidence stated. “This posthumous award and pardon not only honours their memory but also validates the justness of their cause and the profound impact of their activism.”
While welcoming the presidential action, OYAN distinguished between pardoning and exonerating the activists, arguing that true justice requires acknowledgement of their innocence rather than forgiveness for alleged crimes.
“A pardon, while appreciated, acknowledges conviction,” the organisation noted. “However, their execution followed a process widely criticised for its lack of due process and fairness. True justice and full reconciliation demand a clear declaration of their innocence.”
The group argued that exoneration would definitively acknowledge the injustices suffered by the activists and affirm their legacy as heroes rather than merely pardoned individuals.
OYAN also called for posthumous national honours for the “Ogoni Four” – traditional leaders who were murdered in circumstances that led to the charges against the Ogoni Nine. The youth organisation argued that recognising these victims would demonstrate a holistic commitment to healing and acknowledging all victims of past conflicts.
“Recognising the Ogoni Four with national honours 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,” the statement read.
The organisation emphasised that the presidential gesture should serve as a catalyst for renewed efforts toward environmental restoration and justice in Ogoniland. OYAN called on government agencies, multinational corporations, and civil society organisations to use this moment of reconciliation to accelerate comprehensive cleanup efforts and implement policies preventing future environmental injustices.
OYAN views the presidential action as creating momentum for continued dialogue and collaborative efforts toward sustainable development in Ogoniland. The organisation expressed commitment to advancing environmental justice and human rights in the Niger Delta while building on the foundation established by the honoured activists.
The Ogoni Youth Advancement Network, which continues to advocate for environmental justice and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: http://bit.ly/3I7mQVx
Or scan the QR code:
