USA-Based Niger Delta Groups, NOUS INT'L, CDHRAC Reject FG's National Award For Saro Wiwa, Others ...Seek Exoneration Or Retrial

United States of America (USA)-based group, the National Union of Ogoni Students International (NUOS INT’L USA), and the Center for Democracy, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption International (CDHRAC INT’L USA), have reacted to the posthumous awards and pardon given to the late environmental activist, Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others by President Bola Tinubu during the June 12 Democracy Day speech at a joint sitting of the National Assembly, 

which appeared to be a strategic political move.

The groups stated that unfortunately this move is no different from the pardon granted by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.

These.were contained in a statement jointly signed by the President of NOUS INT'L, Mr Pius Nwinee, and CDHRAC INT’L USA Coordinator, Cornelius Dumerenee, dated Thursday June 19, 2025, that the awards cannot heal the years of degradation suffered by the people of Ogoniland in Rivers State.

"NUOS INTL USA and CDHRAC, on behalf of themselves, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and the Ogoni people in Rivers State reject the purported presidential pardon and the imposition of any other oil company in any pseudo name to prospect for oil and reject any attempt of oil  resumption in Ogoniland. 

"After innocent and wrongful death of the Ogoni nine, we wish to inform Ogoni  running stomach politicians advocating otherwise that exoneration is unknown to Nigerian law, may be they should go back to school.

"NUOS INT'L USA and CDHRAC are calling on President Bola Tinubu to confer presidential  honours on Ogoni four whom the government and Shell used as pawns, and we are reiterating that pardon is not acceptable for the late Chief Ken Saro Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists," the groups stated.

The groups emphasised the distinction between a pardon, typically granted to convicted criminals, and an exoneration, which is a formal declaration of innocence.

"We therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian state to open an independent judicial commission on the conviction and killings of Ken Saro- Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists.

"What the then military government did by convicting and hanging innocent people over trump up charges is uncalled for and they should be exonerated or retried, while their families and the people of Ogoniland should be compensated for the killings and years of degradation of their land through oil exploration and spillages," the statement read. 

NOUS INT'L.and CDHRAC INT’L USA demanded the prosecution of those responsible for the 1995 executions of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists, Ogoni 4 and the burning of 17 ogoni towns and villages and over 100 killed in the attack.

The groups also called for a formal apology from the Nigerian government, and the exoneration or retrial of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues.

They condemned over five decades of oil exploration and alleged oil theft in Ogoniland by Royal Dutch Shell, in collaboration with the Nigerian state, and demanded an immediate halt to such activities.

They emphasised that the Ogoni people who took up struggle for self determination,  property rights, economic, political, anti-corruption and environmental degradation against the Royal Dutch Shell and the Nigerian state, including the late Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others, were rewarded with hanging.

The groups called on the Federal Government to preserve before and after facts and every evidence, saying that their heroes would not be felons, "while other corrupt  politicians line up their pockets."

They maintained that the call for exoneration is non negotiable, saying that it does not seek attention nor does it seek confrontation, conflict but change, and that it's a change against the backdrop of what took Ogoniland to where it is now.

According to them, Shell pollution and oil spill was daily and loud, but that "more dismayed was that Shell's human rights abuse on the people was even louder."

"Shell hates our silence, but more than that, Shell hated peaceful protests for justice and questioned our tenacity, and audacity to dream or ask for compensation.

"When all these failed, Shell instigated and sponsored a tribal war, destroying 17 Ogoni towns and villages and killing over 100 people.

"As if we were perpetrators of our own crisis, Shell changed tactics, changed approaches and militarised Ogoniland and ordered the Nigerian soldiers at Kpor to shoot at sight.

"For the sake of argument, let us assume that Ken Saro Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists were murderers as the Shell and the government wants us to believe, will they say it was Ken Saro Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) that incited the burning of 17 Ogoni towns, villages and killings of over 100 people in the tribal war in Ogoni. 

"And if this was so, why didn't the government prosecute Ken Saro Wiwa and MOSOP then.

"The government said it has been 30 years of historical grievances, but the truth is that Ogoni has had 30 years of historical grievances plus 30 years of oil theft, fraud and theft by deception. 

"Does Nigeria not have decency, conscience and faith in justice. We want to thank you Mr President for your kind  gesture with the honours, but exoneration is the only way to go for Ken Saro Wiwa and the eight Ogoni activists," the groups said in the statement.

The groups also condemned what it described as the militarisation of governance in Rivers State, demanding: the removal of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.) as sole administrator, the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who they claim was unjustly suspended, and an end to what they called an “illegal and undemocratic” state of emergency.