In a symbolic act on Democracy Day, June 12, 2025, President Bola Tinubu issued a posthumous pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight environmental activists, known collectively as the “Ogoni Nine,” who were executed in November 1995 under Gen. Sani Abacha’s military regime . Alongside the pardon, Saro-Wiwa was honored with the title Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), while the other eight received the Order of the Niger (OON) .
However, the pardon has been met with strong opposition from Ogoni activists and Saro-Wiwa’s family. Many argue that a pardon implies guilt, whereas what’s needed is full exoneration—a formal declaration of innocence. Celestine Akpobari, coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, denounced the pardon as “insulting,” emphasizing that “you cannot pardon someone that has not committed an offense,” and called for total exoneration . The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation likewise stated that Saro-Wiwa was innocent, urging that exoneration—not pardon—was the required path to justice .
This move comes after years of advocacy by various civil society groups, including the Clean Environmental Foundation, MOSOP, and Saro-Wiwa’s daughter Noo, who have all pushed for formal acknowledgment of government wrongdoing, compensation, and a national monument in his memory . While the pardon was described by Tinubu’s spokesperson as typical, he also indicated that exoneration requests could still be considered .
The pardon also reignites long-standing tensions over unresolved environmental devastation in Ogoniland, as oil-driven pollution persists and local communities fear exploitation tied to renewed drilling efforts . Activists view this as a possible tool to pacify opposition while pressing for genuine cleanup and reparations.
