Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has honoured Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight fellow Ogoni activists, executed in 1995 under General Sani Abacha’s regime, in a posthumous tribute marking the 2024 Ogoni Martyrs Remembrance Day.
The commemoration, detailed in a statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, underscores the sacrifices made by these Ogoni leaders in their struggle for environmental justice.
The statement expresses solidarity with the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) and all Ogoni citizens, reinforcing the administration’s dedication to fostering reconciliation, healing, and unity among Nigeria’s ethnic groups.
Reflecting on this year’s Ogoni Martyrs Day theme, After Price, Comes Prise, Tinubu acknowledged the “pain and lessons of the past,” promising a commitment to peace, justice, and sustainable development, especially for communities in the Niger Delta affected by oil exploration.
The president also highlighted the government’s resolve to address historical grievances, recognising the martyrs’ legacy as a call to action for a future free from such injustices.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, a prominent activist and leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), was executed on November 10, 1995, alongside Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
The men were condemned by a military tribunal, a decision that drew international outcry and continues to resonate as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in the Niger Delta.
In honouring the Ogoni Martyrs, President Tinubu expressed a vision for a united and prosperous Nigeria, where environmental and social justice are pursued through dialogue, engagement, and mutual respect.