Environmental group urges President Tinubu to exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa, calls for compensation

February 26, 2025

The Clean Environmental Foundation (CEF) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant a state pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa, the renowned environmental activist who was executed in 1995.

The group also requested that a national monument be named in his honor and that compensation be provided to his family.

In a statement, Isaac Omomedia, Executive Director of CEF, emphasized the significance of this gesture, stating, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend state pardon to Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others judicially murdered by the Nigerian State under Gen Sani Abacha.”

Omomedia highlighted the enduring impact of Saro-Wiwa’s murder on the Niger Delta community, noting that “the return of oil exploration in Ogoni is not as important as building broken trust between the Ogoni and the Nigerian authorities.”

Ken Saro-Wiwa, a prominent writer, teacher, and social rights activist, led the struggle for environmental justice in the Niger Delta, particularly in Ogoniland. His execution, along with eight other Ogoni leaders, sparked global condemnation, including from former South African President Nelson Mandela.

The CEF’s appeal comes as President Tinubu has recently honored Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni martyrs, pledging to address historical injustices and promote national unity.

Omomedia urged President Tinubu to take concrete actions to rebuild trust with the Ogoni people, stating, “President Tinubu should do the right thing.

“He will instantly enjoy the support of Ogoni people and the entire Niger Delta if he can be courageous enough to reclaim the lost trust between Ogoni and the Nigerian state.”

The CEF’s call for justice and recognition of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s legacy serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for environmental justice and human rights in the Niger Delta.