Nobel Laureate and renowned playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately investigate the unresolved deaths of key Nigerian figures including Dele Giwa, Kudirat Abiola, and Bola Ige. Soyinka made this appeal during a media briefing in Lagos on Saturday, June 14, 2025, as part of events marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration.
Soyinka stressed that bringing justice to those whose lives were lost in suspicious political circumstances is critical to the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“Some Nigerians at home and abroad may hold vital clues to these tragic assassinations,” Soyinka said, urging the government to take bold steps toward justice. “We must give closure to these painful chapters of our national history.”
Soyinka’s remarks follow President Tinubu’s national address on June 12, where he honored several individuals for their roles in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle. The Democracy Day celebration also included the posthumous recognition of heroes like Kudirat Abiola and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
While acknowledging the significance of the awards, Soyinka noted several key omissions and emphasized the importance of not trivializing the sacrifices made during the June 12 movement.
“No one should make light of the weight and importance of the June 12 struggle,” he said. “Many people died, many were tortured, and others spent years in detention. It was a dark chapter that should never be forgotten.”
Soyinka added that he would dedicate his national honour to the memory of the late Beko Ransom-Kuti, a fearless human rights defender who was repeatedly jailed during Nigeria’s military era.
Describing Ransom-Kuti as “a defender of human rights, champion of good governance, and campaigner for democracy,” Soyinka said the award is best honored by remembering the true heroes who paid the ultimate price for Nigeria’s democracy.
President Tinubu’s June 13 announcement listed 66 recipients of national honours. Among them were posthumous recognitions for the Ogoni Nine, including environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. Tinubu not only conferred on them national honours but also issued a posthumous state pardon, a significant gesture aimed at national reconciliation.
“I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine and his fellow travellers,” President Tinubu announced. “I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon.”
The move marks the first time a Nigerian president has publicly acknowledged the contributions of the Ogoni Nine to Nigeria’s democracy and environmental justice movement. Each of the eight others received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), while Saro-Wiwa was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
The Ogoni Nine were executed in 1995 under the Sani Abacha regime following a controversial trial condemned globally. Their deaths sparked international outrage and led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth.
Soyinka’s call for justice echoes the feelings of many Nigerians who believe the country must not only honor but also investigate and rectify the wrongs committed during its darkest political periods.
For many, the path to true democracy in Nigeria lies not only in awards but in accountability and truth.
