… as Kano lawyer decries exclusion of Rimi, Lamido, Atiku, others
The late Ken Saro-Wiwa’s kinsmen have demanded ‘exoneration’ for their late brother and other martyrs who were part of the slain Ogoni 9, not ‘state pardon’.
The activists who reacted to the state pardon and national honours granted by President Bola Tinubu during his Democracy Day address at the National Assembly, said the state pardon confirmed that Ken Saro-Wiwa and others committed the offence as charged, found guilty, and now pardoned.
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which stated this shortly after the address of President Tinubu at the National Assembly however commended the president for daring where others feared.
In a statement signed by Fegalo Nsuke, MOSOP President, the Group urged President Tinubu to remove what they called the stains of injustice from “Ogoni 9”, admitting that the pardon had however begun the healing process.
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MOSOP said, “His recognition of the injustices endured by Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots, and his words acknowledging the moral wounds of their execution, have been received with gratitude across the country and by many in the international community.
“In the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots, it is clear that no legitimate crime was committed. His Excellency, President Tinubu, himself acknowledged that their unjust execution should never have happened.”
MOSOP said Tinubu admitted that much. “In this light, we humbly appeal that His Excellency goes further, by pursuing a formal exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his fellow activists. Such an exoneration would be a stronger moral and legal correction, ensuring that their names are no longer burdened by the stain of injustice.
“To this end, the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate and formally repudiate the irregularities of the 1995 tribunal would be a landmark act of complete restorative justice. It will be one that would further cement President Tinubu’s legacy as a leader not only of courage, but of conscience.
“This administration has taken a bold step. History will surely honour it even more for completing the journey toward full justice”, the Group added.
This position is supported by other Ogoni leaders and activities, including Kote Odungwere and Tombari Kote that Ken Saro-Wiwa and others should be exonerated, not pardoned.
“Recall that the judgment of the Tribunal on the Ogoni 9 was rejected, faulted and globally condemned. So, there has not been justice and transparent trial of the Ogoni 9 that someone should consider them guilty of any crime”, they said.
Meanwhile, there were hues and cries from Kano, Northwest, Nigeria where Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, decried the exclusion of some Northern-based activists who were part of June 12 struggle from the list of 65 heroes and heroines of June 12, 1993 struggle.
BusinessDay reports that the exclusion of some activities from the list of those that deserve the national honours by President Tinubu generated mixed reactions from various quarters in the Northern Region a s people demanded the inclusion of the likes of Abubakar Rimi and Sule Lamido, both former Governors of Kano and Jigawa States, among others.
Speaking on the exclusion of the activities in the list national awardees, Musa said, “The Awardees of the National Honors today, are those who sustained the struggle for June 12 election. Though I have seen the name of Gen Yar’Adua and Gambo Sawaba in it.
“By whatever criteria, if Yar’Adua and Sawaba are qualified for the award based on June 12 struggle, then Abubakar Rimi, Sule Lamido, Tony Anenih, Col Dangiwa Umar and Atiku Abubakar are equally well qualified.”
