The Federal Government is considering the possibility of granting a posthumous pardon for the late activist and playwright, Kenule Saro-Wiwa, and eight others.
Buhari said this on Friday as he received a delegation of leaders of Ogoniland at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to him, his administration is determined to engender true reconciliation and national integration, stressing that the government is determined to bring the Ogoni crisis to a close.
The “Ogoni 9”, as Saro-Wiwa and the eight others were known, were hanged by the regime of General Sani Abacha on November 10, 1995, for demanding an end to the environmental pollution being caused then by the activities of Shell Petroleum Development Company in Ogoniland.
Members of the group were Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
Their execution in 1995 followed their arrest in the previous year and subsequent trial by a special tribunal, which found them guilty.
Buhari said that the gravity of the circumstances leading to their death notwithstanding, the government would consider the leaders’ request and posthumous pardon to the nine.
“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 Ogoni Land.
“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,’’ he said.
The demands made by Saro-Wiwa and the others have culminated in the current efforts by the federal government and the international community to embark on a campaign to clean up Ogoniland.
“You will need to educate the people of Ogoni Land and the region more than when pipelines are broken, the damage is more to the immediate environment and the people. The majority of farmers and fishermen struggle because the fishes now move to the deep sea,’’ Buhari told the Ogoni leaders.
A statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) further quoted the President as saying: “Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished representatives of the people of Ogoni Land, I note the need to ensure completion of a segment of the East-West Road traversing Ogoni Land, and steps will be taken to ensure delivery under the Infrastructure Development Fund as earlier conceived. We intend to complete this vital artery of Nigeria.”
He told the visiting leaders that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd (NPDC), which is a unit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), had been granted license to operate OML11, which, according to him, will have a linkage effect on Ogoniland.
“To ensure the stimulation of economic activities in Ogoni Land as underpinned by the vast petroleum resources underlying Ogoni Land and neighbouring communities, NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC has been granted licence to operate OML11.
“Accordingly, NNPC is hereby directed to engage all host communities, particularly Ogoni people to ensure inclusive processes of oil and gas exploration and production is anchored on optimum involvement of host communities. NPDC will lay a broad-based programme for the emergence of a new Ogoni Land for the benefit of the Ogoni people and Nigeria as a whole,’’ he added.
