SOYINKA URGES TINUBU TO PROBE DEATHS OF DELE GIWA, KUDIRAT ABIOLA, BOLA IGE
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By: Sefiu Ajape
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to initiate an investigation into the mysterious deaths of notable Nigerians such as Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, and Kudirat Abiola, in a bid to bring long-awaited closure to the unresolved cases.
Speaking with select journalists in Lagos on Saturday, Soyinka noted that Nigerians both at home and abroad may hold vital information that could shed light on the killings.
His remarks came as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day, commemorated on June 12, 2025, during which President Tinubu addressed a joint session of the National Assembly and conferred national honours on several heroes of the pro-democracy struggle.
While commending the gesture, Soyinka pointed out that the honours list omitted key figures who played pivotal roles in the democratic movement.
He expressed hope that those honoured symbolically represented the many others who fought for democracy.
Soyinka added that he would dedicate his own honour to the memory of the late Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti—whom he described as a fearless human rights defender, advocate for good governance, and tireless democracy activist who endured repeated detentions under military rule.
He warned that no one should make light of the weight and importance of the June 12 struggle, as many people died, and many others were greatly injured by the military junta, which killed, tortured, and imprisoned Nigerians at the time.
Soyinka’s plea comes after the presidency on Saturday denied it awarded national honours to human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and 35 others.
Names of the heroes of democracy were announced by President Tinubu on Thursday, June 13, as part of the activities marking the 2025 Democracy Day celebration. Only 66 awardees were announced at the joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja.
Among the posthumous awardees were a former Chief of Staff, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; a former NEC Chairman who oversaw the 1993 elections, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu; and the wife of MKO Abiola and martyr of the June 12 struggle, Kudirat Abiola.
The President also granted a posthumous state pardon to renowned environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the rest of the Ogoni Nine, three decades after their controversial execution by the Sani Abacha-led military regime.
The nine other activists were also acknowledged for their sacrifices in the struggle for environmental justice and democratic ideals in Nigeria.
“I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine and his fellow travellers,” Tinubu announced.
“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,” he said.
Each of the eight was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, while Ken Saro-Wiwa was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.
This marks the first time a Nigerian President has officially acknowledged the role of the Ogoni Nine in the national democratic journey and taken steps toward state-led rehabilitation of their legacy.
The Ogoni Nine were prominent members of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which campaigned against environmental degradation in the Niger Delta caused by oil exploration. Their execution drew global outrage, including Nigeria’s temporary suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations in 1995.
Those honoured alongside Saro-Wiwa include Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine, all executed in 1995 after a military tribunal found them guilty in a trial widely condemned by international human rights groups as flawed and politically motivated.
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