President Bola Tinubu has posthumously conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the late Ogoni Four—Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage—in recognition of their sacrifices and contributions to national development and the pursuit of justice in Ogoniland.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the presentation of the Ogoni Consultations Committee’s report.
While honoring the Ogoni Four, President Tinubu called for unity among the Ogoni people, urging them to leave past grievances behind and move forward as a united community.
“May their memories continue to inspire unity, courage, and purpose among us,” he said. “I urge the Ogoni people across classes, communities, and generations to close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us, and move forward with one voice.”
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace, environmental restoration, and economic revitalization in Ogoniland.
He expressed optimism over the consensus among Ogoni communities to resume oil production in the region, which has been suspended since 1993 due to environmental and social concerns.
“The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity,” Tinubu assured.
He also highlighted the steps taken under the previous administration in 2022, when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its partners were assigned operatorship of the Ogoni oil field.
Tinubu pledged to build on this decision and directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to engage with Ogoni communities, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to finalize arrangements for restarting operations.
Additionally, he tasked the Minister of Environment with integrating pollution remediation efforts into ongoing dialogues with the Ogoni people.
In his report, the NSA, Mallam Ribadu, noted that consultations had engaged all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, capturing key demands such as structured participation in oil production, accelerated cleanup efforts, and sustainable development.
Prof. Don Baridam, Chair of the Dialogue Committee, emphasized that the report reflects the collective will of the Ogoni people and should serve as a blueprint for action through an inter-agency taskforce.
While speaking after the event, Ribadu reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to peace, stability, and inclusive development in the Niger Delta.
“Peace is being restored already, and Nigerians will soon see the benefits, not just in Ogoniland but across the Niger Delta and beyond,” he said.
The announcement comes nearly three decades after oil exploration in Ogoniland was halted in 1993 following protests against environmental degradation.
The crisis escalated with the 1995 execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others, marking a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history. Tinubu’s administration seeks to turn the page by fostering reconciliation and development in the region.
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