Probe Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Kudirat, Other High Profile Murders, Soyinka Charges Tinubu

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch an immediate investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths of several prominent Nigerians, including Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, and Kudirat Abiola.

Speaking to a select group of journalists in Lagos on Saturday, Soyinka emphasized the need for closure on these cases, which have remained unsolved for decades.

He noted that many Nigerians, both at home and abroad, may possess crucial information that could help shed light on these killings.

Soyinka’s plea comes as Nigeria marked its Democracy Day on June 12, 2025, with President Tinubu addressing a joint session of the National Assembly and conferring national honors on several heroes of the struggle.

While Soyinka praised the recognition of these individuals, he expressed disappointment at the omission of other key figures who played a significant role in the fight for democracy.

The renowned author also announced that he would be dedicating his own national honor to the memory of Late Beko Ransom-Kuti, a human rights defender and champion of good governance who was detained and jailed multiple times by the Nigerian military.

Soyinka warned against downplaying the significance of the June 12 struggle, which resulted in the loss of many lives and the injury of countless others at the hands of the military junta.

He emphasized that the sacrifices made during this period should not be forgotten or trivialized.

Meanwhile, the presidency has denied reports that human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and 35 others were awarded national honors. The list of awardees, announced by President Tinubu on Thursday, included 66 individuals, among them posthumous recipients such as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, and Kudirat Abiola.

In a significant move, President Tinubu also granted a posthumous state pardon to renowned environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the rest of the Ogoni Nine, who were executed by the Sani Abacha-led military regime in 1995.

The Ogoni Nine were recognized for their contributions to the struggle for environmental justice and democratic ideals in Nigeria, with each member awarded the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), while Ken Saro-Wiwa received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

This development marks a major step towards rehabilitating the legacy of the Ogoni Nine and acknowledging their role in Nigeria’s democratic journey.