By: Felix Ikpotor
The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation (KSWF) is demanding for total exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others killed during the General Sani Abacha military junta in 1995 as against the presidential pardon announced by the presidency.
This is even as the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), has rejected the pardon saying it doesn’t meet the yearnings of the Ogoni people.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, after a visit by the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality promised to grant presidential pardon to the slain activist, Ken Saro -Wiwa and eight others,
KSWF in a statement by Dr. Owens Wiwa on behalf of the Board of Directors noted that the slain Ogonis were unjustly executed.
The statement reads in parts: “”Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight Ogonis were not criminals. They were innocent activists unjustly murdered for fighting for a just cause on behalf of their oppressed community.
The foundation noted that the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, judicially murdered on November 10,1995 is the step for real peace in the area.
KSWF noted that ” the Ken Saro-Wiwa fily have earlier made a request for the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa to the President in the past and are still waiting for a response. We urge the president to again consider this request as path to justice and peace”.
It noted that the family and foundation did not ask anybody or group to ask for pardon for the slain activists on its behalf or aware of any group doing so.
On his part, OYF President-General, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana noted that the United Nations Fact Finding Team which arrived Nigeria on April 1996 already passed a verdict that the trial and execution of the Ogoni nine was unjust, unfair, partial and does not meet the requirements of both domestic and international human rights laws.
The youth leader while appearing on Rhythm 93.7fm in Port Harcourt vehemently objected to any plan to pardon the slain heroes who he said, didn’t commit any crime against the Nigerian State and deferred on the position of some Ogoni leaders on the ground that Ken Saro Wiwa was extra-judicially killed by the Nigerian State and that, what is appropriate in the circumstance is a public apology and a Posthumous Honour. “We totally reject the planned pardon in its entirety. Pardons are giving to criminals. Ken Saro Wiwa wasn’t guilty of any crime and do not earn the pardon. What we are asking for is the exoneration of the name of Ken Saro Wiwa from the Justice Auta Ibrahim kangaroo Tribunal and for a National Posthumous Honour to be bestowed on him and other martyrs like it was bestowed on M.K.O. Abiola, Babagana Kingibe and Gani Fawehinmi and not a pardon,” he said.
He further noted that no accolade whatsoever has hitherto been given to Ken Saro-Wiwa his eight lieutenants despite their roles in enthroning democracy in the country with their life.
OYF believe that honouring these martyrs would perfect the quest for national healing and reconciliation.
To further buttress the foregoing, the Ogoni youth boss referenced the provision of section 35(6) of the 1999 constitution as amended which provides that any person who is unlawfully arrested, detained and or suffered injustice shall be entitled to compensation and apology from the appropriate authority and supported his position with the decision of the Court in Chairman Efcc V David Littlechild (2015)LCN/7962(CA).
