Ogoni Justice first: Coalition Demands Tinubu Exonerate Martyrs before Oil Exploration

A coalition of Ogoni Civil Society Groups has called on President Bola Tinubu to exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others who were executed while fighting for the rights of the Ogoni people. They insist that clearing their names should happen before any oil exploration resumes in Ogoniland.  

President Tinubu has held several meetings with Ogoni leaders and stakeholders in Rivers State regarding the planned oil exploration. Recently, he signed a bill into law to establish the University of Environment, Ogoni, as part of efforts to address the suffering caused by years of environmental damage.  

At a press briefing in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, the coalition stressed that the Ogoni Nine must be exonerated before oil activities begin. Their statement was signed by key figures, including HRH Chief Georgina Tenalo, Fegalo Nsuke, Barine Nagbo, Barinaadaa Wugale, Michael Karikpo, Emmanuel Barinuazor, and Theophilus Mbagha.  
The group thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to resolving the Ogoni crisis. They recalled that he told Ogoni leaders in May 2024, “We must heal the wounds of the past. We must live and prepare for the future of our children.”  

They urged the President to clear the names of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Baribor Bera, Saturday Doobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbokoo, Felix Nuate, John Kpuinen, and Dr. Nubari Kiobel. According to them, “We have no doubt in our minds that President Tinubu will work to heal the wounds inflicted on Ogoniland by a brutal dictatorship in cahoots with Shell.”  

The coalition also called for a peace and reconciliation panel to investigate the deaths of the Ogoni Four, saying, “This will bring healing and closure to their families.” They criticized the lack of representation of women and youth in the recent consultations and demanded that the facilitation group be restructured to include all voices, including representatives of the Ogoni Nine families and MOSOP.