October 25, (THEWILL) – The Foundation, in a statement signed on behalf of the board by Dr. Owen Wiwa, asked President Buhari to grant their earlier request for the exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and eight others made by the family of the late activist.
The statement reads in part: “Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight Ogonis were not criminals. They were innocent activists unjustly murdered for fighting for a just cause on behalf of their oppressed community.
“The path to true peace in the region begins with justice. The cleaning up of the environment for which they campaigned and died for is a first good step.
“The exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni activists, judicially murdered on November 10 1995 is another step towards peace.
“The family of Ken Saro-Wiwa have made a request for the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa to the President in the past and are still waiting for a response. We urge the President to again consider this request as a path to justice and peace.
“The family and the Foundation have not asked any individual to ask for pardon or clemency for Ken Saro-Wiwa on our behalf, nor are we aware of any group of Ogonis making such a request.”
THEWILL reports that President Buhari had in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, hinted of plans to grant clemency to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others executed in 1995 by the Sani Abacha military regime.
“Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring clemency and national integration as part of this administration’s bid to lay the foundation for genuine reconciliation and bring closure to the issues of Ogoniland.
“The unfortunate incidents of the early 1990s leading to the loss of lives of distinguished sons of Ogoniland and the collateral judicial processes are indelible in our memories.
“Despite the grievous circumstances, the Federal Government will consider the request for the grant of pardon to finally close the Ogoni saga,” President Buhari noted during visits by some Ogoni leaders.
