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The famous Nobel winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, has asked the Tinubu Bola President to pass the direct and transparent investigation of unresolved murder of the leading Nigerians, including Journalist Dele Giwa, former IGE Bola Agung, and Pro-Democracy activist Kudirat Abiola.
Soyinka made a call on Saturday during media interaction with elected journalists in Lagos, as part of the activity that marked the 2025 Nigerian Democratic Day.
He described the continuous silence around this political murder as a stain of the country’s democratic conscience and urged the government to offer a long closure of the families of the victims and the Nigerian public.
“This is not just statistics,” said Soyinka. “They are people who pay the highest price to dare to speak, to challenge injustice. If there is a government who must review this murder, this is, led by someone who himself is very involved in the pro-democracy struggle.”
Nobel winner emphasizes that credible direction still exists, both at home and abroad, which, if chased seriously, can eventually bring clarity to the old mystery around death.
When praising the Tinubu government for respecting several figures who were the center of Nigerian democratic struggle, Soyinka noted with the concerns of the absence of certain key actors in the official list of award recipients.
“There is negligence, yes. But I believe the recipients are standing as representatives of many people who set their lives or suffer greatly for our democracy,” he said.
Soyinka announced that she would dedicate her own national honor to the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, a tireless human rights advocate and a medical doctor who faced the arrest and sentence of recurring prison during military years. He described Beko as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice, whose inheritance should not be forgotten.
This year’s Democratic Day celebration was marked by a solemn award for the past, with President Tinubu giving a national award to 66 people. Among them is the recognition of Anumerta for Shehu Musa Yar’adua, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, and Kudirat Abiola, widely seen as martyrs from the June 12 movement.
Perhaps the most prominent, Tinubu bestowed the country’s forgiveness and national awards in the final environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of “Ogoni Sembilan.” This marks the first time that every Nigerian president officially recognizes their role in the country’s democratic journey.
Saro-Wiwa, a prominent voice against environmental degradation in Delta Niger which is rich in oil, and his colleagues were executed by the military government led by Sani Abacha in 1995 after the controversial trial which was cursed globally as unfair and politically motivated. Their death sparked international anger and caused the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth.
Tinubu, speaking during a session with the National Assembly, was awarded the Saro-Wiwa Honorary Commander of the Order Niger (CON), while others accepted the Order Niger (Oon) officers. He then promised to announce additional forgiveness by consulting with the National National Council.
“This is not only symbolic,” said Soyinka. “This is a moral necessity, a long -term national reconciliation action.”
Soyinka warned that the importance of June 12 was not reduced, reminded the nation that the date was a painful milestone and struggled in the history of Nigerian democracy.
“We must not forget: people are jailed, tortured, killed because they only believe in better Nigeria,” he said. “We respect them not only with placards and titles, but with action by continuing to demand justice, transparency, and truth.”
