Port Harcourt, Rivers State – E don clear say dem don pardon late Ken Saro-Wiwa and di Ogoni Nine, but di family still dey ask for more action from President Bola Tinubu. Na dia ongoing struggle for environmental justice for Ogoni people wey bring dem trouble wey dem face since 1995 when dem execute dem under di reign of late General Sani Abacha.
Noo Saro-Wiwa, daughter of di late activist, talk say di conferment of national honours on her papa and im colleagues o dey symbolize dia innocence. She drop dis gist after Tinubu address for National Assembly on June 12, 2025, wey be Democracy Day. Na dia, Tinubu give di Ogoni Nine posthumous national honours and presidential pardon, wahala wey don dey long overdue for dem.
Noo come add, “We acknowledge di national honours wey dem grant our papa and odas. Dis honour dey show say dem be heroes wey fight for dia people. But we still dey request say dem go review di trial wey lead to di execution of our papa. Dis go ensure say dem no go fit wrong pipo for di future again.” (E mean say dem just dey chop belleful).
Esther Kiobel, wey be di wife of Barinem Kiobel, one of di Ogoni Nine, also talk say she dey happy for di pardon but e no finish dere. “We dey talk say justice no be just pardon; our husbands no commit any crime,” she yan. She don dey fight for her husband justice since di time dem execute am, and e no be small wahala for am. Na true wahala when you no gree accept say your loved one na criminal.
Ogoni Nine na dem nine activists wey lead di charge against di oil exploitation wey dey destroy dia land wey Shell and odas dey run am. Di Nigerian government accuse dem say dem dey involved for di murder of four Ogoni chiefs, but many dey believe say dem na scapegoat because of dia non-violent protest against oil companies. Na dis matter wey cause di whole saga wey lead to global protests and condemnation.
In di own words, environmental rights activist Fegalo Nsuke praise di recent actions, but he still demand more. “President Tinubu don show say he dey see di people and e dey take steps to make sure say justice dey come, but we need dem to do more dan just pardon. Na exoneration we go need to make dis matter go down well,” he fork talk.
Dem don suffer plenty for dis case, and di ongoing environmental pollution dey wey dey happen for Niger Delta region dey make di matter worse. Shell been don dey face several lawsuits for di damages over di years, but e still dey hard to see any real change. Wetin we want be accountability, not just words. We dey pray say movement wey started by di Ogoni Nine no go end for mere words, but for real transformation for di Ogoni people and environmental justice.
