President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday conferred posthumous national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other members of the Ogoni Nine, nearly three decades after their controversial execution.

Delivering an address at the joint sitting of Nigeria’s National Assembly to mark Democracy Day 2025, Tinubu confirmed that Saro-Wiwa and his compatriots, who were hanged by the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995, have now been officially pardoned and recognised for their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

Saro-Wiwa, an environmental activist and writer, alongside Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Felix Nuate, Paul Levula, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo and Daniel Gbokoo, was executed after a widely criticised military tribunal. Their deaths sparked international condemnation and led to Nigeria’s temporary suspension from the Commonwealth.

In his speech, President Tinubu described the executions as a “deep scar on the conscience of the nation” and acknowledged their sacrifices in the struggle for justice and environmental rights in the oil-producing Niger Delta. He conferred on Saro-Wiwa the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), while his eight colleagues were awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

“Their unjust execution should never have happened,” Tinubu said. “Today, we correct the record and honour their courage in the face of tyranny.”

The decision is seen as a significant gesture in addressing long standing grievances of the Ogoni people and the wider Niger Delta region, where environmental degradation from decades of oil exploration has fuelled tensions and militancy.

The President’s announcement comes amid a broader celebration of Nigeria’s 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, where dozens of activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and political figures were also honoured. Tinubu highlighted the role of past heroes of democracy, including MKO Abiola, his late wife Kudirat Abiola, and military-era pro-democracy advocates.

The posthumous recognition of the Ogoni Nine was greeted with applause in the chamber and has been hailed by human rights organisations as a long overdue act.

“This is a bold step in the direction of justice and accountability,” said Ledum Mitee, former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), who narrowly escaped the 1995 executions and was also honoured with a CON. “While it cannot undo the past, it sends a powerful message that Nigeria is ready to confront its history with truth and honour.”

President Tinubu concluded his address by urging Nigerians to continue deepening democratic values and to remain committed to building a just and united nation.

“Democracy is alive, not perfect, but resilient,” he said. “And we must preserve it with all our strength.”