Decades after their widely condemned execution under the military dictator, Sani Abacha, President Bola Tinubu has granted full and unconditional presidential pardon to environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni members, honouring them with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Mr Tinubu made the announcement during a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of the June 12 Democracy Day on Thursday.

The other eight Ogoni members honoured were Nordu Eawo, John Kpuine, Saturday Dobee, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera and Barinem Kiobel.

Mr Tinubu said, “I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State.”

The Ogoni Nine were executed in 1995, drawing widespread outrage from many Nigerians who condemned their execution.

Scores of human rights groups also demanded justice for the deceased, as the development led to the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth.

Mr Saro-Wiwa was a prominent writer renowned for leading peaceful campaigns against the environmental degradation of Ogoniland by oil companies, particularly Shell, and the abandonment of the region by successive Nigerian governments.

In January, Mr Tinubu urged leaders of Ogoniland in Rivers State, to forget the past, saying it would be hard to heal the wounds of the past if they continued to be angry.

The president assured the Ogoni leaders that his administration would prioritise peace, justice, and sustainable development of the area, asking the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate inclusive negotiations with the Ogoni leaders.

“We cannot in any way rewrite history, but we can correct some anomalies of the past going forward. We cannot heal the wounds if we continue to be angry,” Mr Tinubu noted.