Onyeche Wofurum Igwe
The family of Ken Saro-Wiwa, the late environmentalist and playwright, has refused to accept the posthumous presidential pardon granted to him and the Ogoni Nine. Instead, they are calling for a full retrial of the case to clear their names.
Noo Saro-Wiwa, Ken’s daughter, expressed her family’s concerns in a statement, saying that the pardon implies guilt rather than innocence. She believes that this gesture does not go far enough to correct the injustice done to the nine men.
The pardon, granted by President Bola Tinubu during the National Council of State meeting, does not satisfy the family’s demands for justice. They maintain that the trial that led to the execution of the Ogoni Nine was flawed and politically motivated.
The family’s rejection of the pardon is based on their conviction that only a retrial or judicial exoneration can truly clear the names of the Ogoni Nine. They believe that this is necessary to uphold justice and restore the dignity of the men.
Human rights advocates and Ogoni groups have also rejected the pardon, demanding full accountability and judicial review. They describe the pardon as a “mere gesture” that does not fully address the historic injustice done to the Ogoni Nine.
The Ogoni Nine were executed in 1995 after being convicted of murdering four Ogoni leaders. However, many believe that the trial was unfair and that the men were targeted for their activism against the Nigerian government and oil companies. The family’s call for a retrial is seen as a way to finally bring closure to the case and provide a measure of justice for the Ogoni Nine.
