President Bola Tinubu on Thursday conferred a posthumous Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the late playwright, activist and leader of Ogoni Nine, Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his members.
The president announced the conferment in a speech read at the joint session of the national assembly in commemoration of the Democracy Day.
The other conferees are Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON).
The ennead were a group of activists from the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta who opposed the operating practices of the Royal Dutch Shell oil corporation in the region.
The military government in Nigeria was threatened by their work and arrested them for alleged murder of four Ogoni chiefs – Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage in Gokana in May 1994.
Social activist and head of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Saro-Wiwa, alongside eight of his fellow leaders — Dobee, Eawo, Gbooko, Levera, Nuate, Bera, Kiobel, and Kpuine—were put on trial for allegedly inciting the murder of four. They were hanged on the November 10 1995.
In addition to the conferment of national honours on the deceased nine Ogonis, 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.
Other recipients of posthumous national honours were Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (CON), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON), Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR), Pa. Alfred Rewani (CFR), Bagauda Kaltho (OON), Chima Ubani (OON), Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON), Alao Aka Bashorun (CON), Chief Frank Kokori (CON), Emma Ezeazu (OON), Bamidele Aturu (OON), Fredrick Fasehun (CON), Professor Festus Iyayi (CON), Dr John Yima Sen (OON), Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON), Dr. Edwin Madunagu (CON), Dr. Alex Ibru (CON), Chief Bola Ige (CFR), Pa. Reuben Fasoranti (CFR), Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON), Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON) and Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON).
Other national honorees (not posthumous) were Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), Kunle Ajibade (OON); Nosa Igiebor (OON), Dapo Olorunyomi (OON), Bayo Onanuga (CON), Ayo Obe (OON), Dare Babarinsa (CON), Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), Senator Shehu Sani (CON), Governor Uba Sani (CON), Barrister Femi Falana, SAN (CON), Prof. Shafideen Amuwo (CON), Barrister Luke Aghanenu (OON), Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi (CON), Hon. Labaran Maku (OON), Dr. Tunji Alausa (CON), Mr Nick Dazang (OON), Hon Abdul Oroh (OON), Odia Ofeimun (CON), Seye Kehinde (OON), Barrister Felix Morka (CON) Barrister Ledum Mitee (CON), Hon. Olawale Osun (CON), Dr. Amos Akingba (CON), Prof. Segun Gbadegesin (CON), Mobolaji Akinyemi (CFR), Dr. Kayode Shonoiki (CON), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (CON), Prof. Bayo Williams (CON), Sen. Abu Ibrahim (CFR), and Sen. Ameh Ebute (CFR), General Alani Akinrinade, GCON.
“Additionally, I confer the national honour of CON on Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, a legendary journalist and publisher who remains true to his lifetime calling as he marks his 90th birthday tomorrow, June 13.” the president stated.
Tinubu also used the occasion to decorate the presiding officers of the national assembly with the national honours earlier conferred upon them in 2024.
They include Messrs Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, senate president; Abbas Tajudeen, GCON, speaker, house of representatives; Jibrin Barau, CFR, deputy senate president, and Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR, deputy speaker.
