Tinubu pardons Ogoni Nine, 175 inmates… honours 959 Nigerians, foreigners

President Bola Tinubu has approved clemency for 175 inmates and conferred national honours on 959 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.

Addressing State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday at the end of the national council of state meeting, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, said the council unanimously endorsed Tinubu’s recommendation to grant various categories of mercy, including full pardons, commutations and reduced sentences.

“Of the total recommended for presidential clemency, there were about 82 pardons, 65 persons recommended for reduced sentences, and seven whose sentences were commuted from death to life imprisonment,” Sani said.

He confirmed that the late environmental activists known as the Ogoni Nine were among those posthumously pardoned, describing the gesture as “symbolic and restorative”.

“The Ogoni Nine, though deceased, were among those granted a presidential pardon under this prerogative of mercy,” the governor said.

Also, Emanso Umobong, permanent secretary in the cabinet affairs office, said the process also extended to the 2024/2025 national honours selection.

Umobong said a reconstituted committee chaired by Sidi Bage Mohammed screened over 5,000 applications before recommending 824 successful candidates for national honours and 135 for special awards.

“In the spirit of inclusive national recognition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred honours on several deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, including Bill Gates for his contributions to public health and humanitarian efforts in Nigeria,” she said.

The honours also recognised icons of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle, marking 26 years of uninterrupted democracy.

Among the recipients were Sam Amuka Pemu, veteran journalist and publisher, and posthumous honours for the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four for their activism and sacrifice.

Special recognition was also given to members of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress for their achievements in international sports, as well as Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for “his service to Nigeria’s democratic process”.

“The award of titles and decorations is a yearly tradition where the President honours nationals and non-nationals who have distinguished themselves in service to the nation and humanity,” Umobong said.

She noted that the list of honourees and those granted presidential mercy will be published soon, offering Nigerians full details of the recipients.

Sani further announced that the council approved the appointment of Aminu Yusuf from Niger state as the new chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).

He added that the council also ratified the appointment of Tonga Bularafa as the federal commissioner representing Yobe state at the commission.

“In attendance were former presidents and heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as governors and other members of the council,” he said.