President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly declared intention to grant a posthumous pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, who were sentenced to death on 10th November, 1995, by a special military tribunal set up by the Nigerian Government under General Sani Abacha, for allegedly fighting for the rights of their people.
According to reports, the president gave the indication, on Friday, when he received some leaders of Ogboni land, led by His Majesty King Godwin N.K. Giniwa (the President of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers), at the State House, Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement by President Muhamadu Buhari, on Friday, 22nd October, 2021.
Part of the statement read: "Despite the grievous circumstances, the Federal Government will consider the request for the grant of pardon to finally close the Ogoni saga. Furthermore, 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. The unfortunate incidents of the early 1990s leading to the loss of lives of distinguished sons of Ogoni Land and the collateral judicial processes are indelible in our memories."
Buhari further disclosed that, the Federal Government was committed to the cleaning up of Ogoni Land so that indigenes can regain their lives, return to farms and reactivate economic activities.
He however, urged Ogoni leaders to works towards protecting national assets like pipelines and other oil installations, stating that, "wilful damages usually create more havoc on their environment and hamper development in the area."
Recall that, Mr. Saro-Wiwa and eight of his kinsmen, who became popularly known as the Ogoni Nine, were sentenced to death on November 10, 1995 by a special military tribunal set up by the Nigerian Government under Gen Sani Abacha who later died in June 1998 inside the presidential villa under mysterious circumstances.
Content created and supplied by: DanielCE (via Opera News )
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