Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has called on President Bola Tinubu to initiate an urgent probe into the unresolved political killings of prominent Nigerians, including Dele Giwa, Chief Bola Ige, and Kudirat Abiola, as a step toward national healing and justice.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Saturday, Soyinka emphasized that several Nigerians—both at home and abroad—possess vital clues that could help unravel the mystery surrounding these high-profile assassinations.
He insisted that resolving these cases would provide long-overdue closure to the victims’ families and reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to justice.
Soyinka’s remarks come on the heels of the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, during which President Tinubu addressed a joint session of the National Assembly and conferred national honours on selected pro-democracy figures.
While the laureate commended the recognition of these individuals, he noted with concern that many deserving heroes were left out of the honours list.
Nonetheless, Soyinka said the gesture represented an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by countless Nigerians in the fight against military dictatorship and for democratic governance.
He announced that he would be dedicating his own Democracy Day honour to the late Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti, describing him as “a defender of human rights, champion of good governance, and campaigner for democracy.”
He warned against downplaying the significance of the June 12 struggle, which claimed many lives and inflicted deep wounds on the nation. “People were imprisoned, tortured, and murdered. This is not a history to be forgotten or revised,” he said.
Soyinka’s statements follow the presidency’s clarification that human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and 35 others were not among the officially honoured recipients, despite earlier reports.
President Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech included the announcement of 66 honourees, among them key figures such as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, and Kudirat Abiola.
Notably, the president posthumously awarded state pardons and national honours to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other members of the Ogoni Nine, acknowledging their sacrifices in the struggle for environmental and democratic justice.
For the first time, a Nigerian president has formally recognised the Ogoni Nine—executed under the Abacha regime in 1995—as national heroes. While Ken Saro-Wiwa received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), the remaining eight activists were awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
The global condemnation that followed their controversial trial and execution had led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth, marking a dark chapter in the nation’s history.
What you should know
Wole Soyinka is urging Tinubu to reopen investigations into Nigeria’s most notorious political assassinations, tying justice to the full realization of Democracy Day’s meaning. His dedication of his award to Beko Ransom-Kuti adds weight to his call for truth and accountability.
