The governor had earlier set up the council, which has the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Chief Chukwuma Umeh as chairman.
Eleven of the pardoned convicts were imprisoned for offences that are not capital in nature and had almost finished serving their prison terms.
Mr. Canice Egbunanne, who is 94 years old and 70 year-old Chidi Nwosu, were pardoned because of age.
Okorocha said at 54, the country should be able to address the issues of insecurity, youth unemployment, selfishness and corruption.
“As a nation, there is no better time to act and achieve the desired goals than now. We must admit that things are not working out the way they should in Nigeria. That will help us to wake up as a nation. We have to strengthen our democracy, because it is not being practiced the way it should. When that is done, development will be guaranteed”, he said.
Okorocha said Nigerians should see themselves as members of one family and shun leaders who preach tribalism, religious dichotomy and division.
The governor urged Nigerians to use the 54th independence anniversary to revisit the issue of devolution of power.
The governor praised the Army, police, SSS and all security agents in the country, especially those in the state for their sacrifices.
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