FG urged to exonerate Saro-Wiwa, eight others for oil resumption in Ogoniland

A coalition of civil society organisations has demanded the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders executed by the Nigerian state in 1995 as a precondition for the resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland.

The demand was made in a press statement signed by Georgina Tenalo, founding President of the Federation of Ogoni Women Association (FOWA); Fegalo Nsuke, President of MOSOP; Evangelist Barine Caroline Nagbo; Barinaadaa Wugale, Executive Director of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, South Africa; Michael Keania Karikpo, Country Manager of Natural Justice, and others during a press conference held in Bori, Khana Council, on Friday.

The group argued that the Nigerian government’s response to the Ogoni people’s non-violent agitation was marked by violence, leading to atrocities such as mass arrests, unjust detention, and the execution of Saro-Wiwa and his comrades.

Fegalo Nsuke, President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), who read the position of the coalition, emphasised that the exoneration of the Ogoni leaders is a necessary step toward correcting the historical injustices perpetrated against the Ogoni people.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to exhibit the same courage and determination that led to the end of the oil subsidy and forex subsidy in addressing the demands of the Ogoni people.

“We are witnesses to the uncommon courage and grit that it took to end the oil subsidy and forex subsidy. We urge President Tinubu to exhibit a similar trait in dealing with this fundamental miscarriage of justice and abominable abuse of power by the Abacha Junta at the behest of Shell,” Nsuke said.

The coalition also demanded the establishment of a Peace and Reconciliation Panel to investigate the deaths of the Ogoni Four, which would bring healing and closure to their families.

Furthermore, the coalition expressed concerns over the lack of inclusivity in the current oil resumption process, noting that women and youths were not represented in the delegation that visited President Tinubu.

They demanded a halt to the consultation process and the reconstitution of the facilitation group to reflect the diversity of the Ogoni community.

The coalition emphasised that the Ogoni people have consistently opposed oil resumption, citing concerns over environmental degradation, neglect, and marginalisation.

They reiterated their commitment to sharing their resources with other Nigerians, but only on the basis of mutuality, fairness, equity, and justice.

“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. We urge President Tinubu to, as a sign of good faith, ensure the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Baribor Bera, Saturday Doobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbokoo, Felix Nuate, John Kpuinen, Dr. Nubari Kiobel either by executive order or via a re-examination of the patently false evidence by the prosecution against these innocent Ogoni sons,” the coalition said.

Also, the coalition demanded the reconstitution of the facilitation group guiding the oil resumption process in Ogoniland.

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The group wants the facilitation group to include representatives of women, Ogoni youths, families of the ‘Ogoni nine,’ MOSOP, and the Ogoni Council of Churches to ensure fairness, equity, and justice.

They said: “We also demand that the facilitation group be reconstituted to ensure it reflects the diversity of the Ogoni community and to ensure fairness, equity, and justice.

“Within this context, we demand that the consultation facilitation group should include representatives of women, representatives of Ogoni youths, a representative nominated by the families of the ‘Ogoni Nine,’ a representative of MOSOP, and a representative of the Ogoni Council of Churches.”