President Bola Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on late Ogoni leaders Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage, collectively known as the “Ogoni Four.”
Speaking on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, while receiving the report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee, Tinubu said the recognition underscores his administration’s commitment to the rights and welfare of the Ogoni people.
He urged the people of Ogoniland to embrace reconciliation and unity after decades of division.
“May their memories continue to inspire unity, courage and purpose among us.
“I urge the Ogoni people across classes, communities and generations to close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us and move forward as a united community with one voice,” he said.
Tinubu assured stakeholders of his government’s support for Ogoniland’s peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival, adding that preparations were underway to resume oil production in the area.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming consensus of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production.
“The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity,” he said.
The President recalled that in 2022, the previous administration handed over the operation of the Ogoni oil field to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners.
He pledged that his administration would honour and build on that decision.
He directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately commence engagement between the Ogoni people, NNPCL, its partners, and other stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations.
“A dead asset is not valuable to the community, the country, or the people. The longer we procrastinate, the worse it is for everyone,”
Tinubu said, while also instructing the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution remediation into the broader dialogue framework.
Presenting the committee’s report, Ribadu said the consultations involved all four Ogoni zones, traditional leaders, local communities, and the diaspora, adding that the outcome would serve as a blueprint for implementation.
Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, Professor Don Baridam, affirmed that the process was inclusive and reflected the aspirations of the Ogoni people.
He noted that the report captured demands for structured participation in oil production, renewed commitment to environmental remediation, and the establishment of a sustainable development framework.
Oil exploration in Ogoniland was halted in 1993 following protests against environmental degradation, culminating in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995.
Recall that on June 12, during Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations, Tinubu also posthumously honoured Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other members of the “Ogoni Nine,” granting them full presidential pardons in recognition of their sacrifice for environmental justice and human rights.
