Renowned Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to authorise an immediate and transparent investigation into the unresolved killings of prominent Nigerians, including journalist Dele Giwa, former Attorney General Bola Ige, and pro-democracy activist Kudirat Abiola.
Soyinka made the call on Saturday during a media interaction with selected journalists in Lagos, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 2025 Democracy Day.
He described the continued silence around these political assassinations as a stain on the country’s democratic conscience and urged the government to offer long-overdue closure to the victims’ families and the Nigerian public.
“These are not just statistics,” Soyinka said. “They were people who paid the ultimate price for daring to speak out, to challenge injustice. If there is any government that should revisit these murders, it is this one, led by someone who himself was deeply involved in the pro-democracy struggle.”
The Nobel Laureate emphasized that credible leads still exist, both at home and abroad, which, if pursued earnestly, could finally bring clarity to the long-standing mysteries surrounding the deaths.
While commending the Tinubu administration for honouring several figures central to Nigeria’s democracy struggle, Soyinka noted with concern the absence of certain key actors on the official list of honourees.
“There were omissions, yes. But I believe the awardees stand as representatives of the many who laid down their lives or suffered greatly for our democracy,” he said.
Soyinka announced he would dedicate his own national honour to the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, a relentless human rights advocate and medical doctor who faced repeated arrests and imprisonment during the military years. He described Beko as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice, whose legacy must never be forgotten.
The Democracy Day celebrations this year were marked by a solemn tribute to the past, with President Tinubu awarding national honours to 66 individuals. Among them were posthumous recognitions for Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, and Kudirat Abiola, widely seen as martyrs of the June 12 movement.
Perhaps most notably, Tinubu conferred a state pardon and national honours on the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other members of the “Ogoni Nine.” This marks the first time any Nigerian president has formally acknowledged their role in the country’s democratic journey.
Saro-Wiwa, a prominent voice against environmental degradation in the oil-rich Niger Delta, and his colleagues were executed by the Sani Abacha-led military government in 1995 after a controversial trial condemned globally as unjust and politically motivated. Their deaths triggered international outrage and led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth.
Tinubu, speaking during the joint session of the National Assembly, awarded Saro-Wiwa the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), while the others received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He further pledged to announce additional pardons in consultation with the National Council of State.
“This is not just symbolic,” said Soyinka. “It is a moral imperative, a long-overdue act of national atonement.”
Soyinka warned against diminishing the significance of June 12, reminding the nation that the date represents a painful, hard-fought milestone in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“We must never forget: people were imprisoned, tortured, murdered for simply believing in a better Nigeria,” he said. “We honour them not only with plaques and titles, but with action by continuing to demand justice, transparency, and truth.”
