A former chairman of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People MOSOP’s Transition Council, Chief Keeper Gbaranor, has described the state pardon granted to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogonis as a step in the right direction and a justification of the Ogonis’ struggle for justice and equity.
Chief Gbaranor, who spoke with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, however, said the pronouncement made by President Bola Tinubu should have been holistic to include a review of the tribunal judgment that led to the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his exoneration along with others, of the crime for which they were killed.
Also see: Amnesty International Orders Presidency To Declare Ken Saro-wiwa Innocent
He said “the gesture has kept our hope alive though it fell short of the expectation of the Ogoni people but the post humus award is an indication that Ken was fighting a just cause, because you cannot give an award to someone who is a criminal or has a questionable character”.
While commending President Tinubu for the gesture done to the late environmentalist, Chief Gbaranor, said a similar gesture should be extended to the four prominent Ogoni chiefs who were killed in Gokana.
Chief Gbaranor, who urged Ogonis to be grateful for the gesture of the Federal Government, however, charged them not to relent in demanding the exoneration of the Late Saro-Wiwa and others of the crime for which they were killed.
