Earlier this year in June, we issued an editorial urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the case involving the Ogoni Four. We are grateful that he heeded this call and has now acted accordingly. We republish this piece today as a tribute to a President who listens and responds.
Responding to persistent advocacy from activists, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reopened the nearly closed chapter of the Ogoni crisis that unfolded three decades ago in 1994. During his June 12 Democracy Day address, he granted pardons to the Ogoni Nine-comprising the renowned activist and leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro-Wiwa, along with eight other prominent figures: Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine. In addition, he bestowed posthumous national honors upon them.
The Ogoni Nine were convicted of allegedly inciting the murders of four Ogoni chiefs-Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage-and were executed on November 10, 1995. This event sparked widespread condemnation from global leaders, organizations, and individuals, especially as it occurred during a period when the nation was deeply opposed to military rule, following the annulment of a widely regarded free and fair election.
Political analysts suggest that President Tinubu’s decision to pardon and honor the Ogoni Nine transcends mere executive action. While this is undeniable, the gesture would carry even greater significance if it included the Ogoni Four. Without their inclusion, the underlying resentment and divisions that led to the tragic events risk persisting across generations, undermining peace within the community. As a publication dedicated to justice, fairness, and moral integrity, we believe the President should extend his prerogative of mercy to the Ogoni Four, thereby fully closing this painful chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Historical precedents reinforce this call. After the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970, General Yakubu Gowon demonstrated magnanimity by pardoning key figures involved in the conflict. Later, President Shehu Shagari furthered reconciliation by pardoning Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, allowing him to return from exile and helping to heal national wounds.
The Ogoni crisis, tragic as it was, stemmed largely from internal conflicts within a community long plagued by strife. The root cause was the exploitation of natural resources, which drew attention to the detrimental effects on the Ogoni people. Unfortunately, the dispute was mishandled by those involved, who diverted focus from the community’s welfare to other interests, exacerbating tensions in an oil-rich region suffering severe environmental degradation.
At the time, the military regime led by General Sani Abacha politicized the situation, intensifying the conflict. Pro-democracy advocates framed the execution of the Ogoni Nine as emblematic of the Abacha government’s oppressive stance, a narrative that gained international traction.
Despite the turmoil, the crisis did highlight the urgent environmental issues facing Ogoniland. Yet, little progress has been made since, failing to justify the violence and loss of life that befell a community striving to survive in a land abundant with resources.
This editorial does not seek to assign blame to any party. Much has already been debated on all sides, and revisiting those arguments now would be unproductive. Instead, we appeal to President Tinubu to address the pain felt by the families of the Ogoni Four. By pardoning and honoring only the Ogoni Nine, the other four are implicitly cast as culpable, a perception that deepens their families’ suffering.
Without a comprehensive and impartial investigation, it is important to recognize that the Ogoni Four were also devoted Nigerians who sacrificed their lives for a cause they believed would benefit their homeland. Notably, the remains of both the Ogoni Nine and the Ogoni Four have never been recovered, lost amid the chaotic and tragic circumstances of that era.
In light of these considerations, we strongly encourage President Tinubu to revisit this matter, fostering enduring peace and reconciliation in Ogoniland.
