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The Board of Directors of Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation (KSWF) has rejected the proposal by President Muhammadu Buhari to grant pardon to Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists executed by the late Military Dictator, Sani Abacha, in 1995.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the president made the proposition on Friday when he received some leaders and people of Ogoni Land at the State House, Abuja.
“The unfortunate incidents of the early 1990s leading to the loss of lives of distinguished sons of Ogoni Land 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,’’ Buhari said on Friday.
How in a swift reaction via a statement signed for the board of directors by Dr. Owen Wiwa, the foundation asked the President to grant the earlier request for the exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and eight others made by the family of the late activist.
The statement said: “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”.