ABUJA: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four late Ogoni leaders Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage popularly remembered as the Ogoni Four.
The posthumous recognition, announced at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, came during the presentation of the Ogoni Consultation Committee Report on Wednesday.
In his address, Tinubu urged the people of Ogoniland to turn decades of division into collective progress, stressing that reconciliation is critical for peace and development.
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, the President said.
He assured that his administration would prioritize environmental remediation, economic revival, and renewed investment in Ogoniland, while also facilitating the return of oil exploration to the area.
Oil activities in Ogoniland halted in 1993 following sustained protests against environmental pollution and exploitation, led by the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues later executed in 1995 in what became known as the Ogoni Nine tragedy.
Tinubu recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its partners were granted operatorship of the Ogoni oil field in 2022, pledging that his government would honour that arrangement.
A dead asset is not valuable to the community, the country, or the people. The longer we procrastinate, the worse it is for everyone, he stated, directing NSA Nuhu Ribadu to begin immediate engagement with stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations.
The President also instructed the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution control and recovery measures into all dialogue with the Ogoni people.
Let us together turn pain into purpose, conflict into cooperation, and transform the wealth beneath Ogoni soil into a blessing for the people and for Nigeria,Tinubu added.
The Ogoni Consultation Committee, chaired by Professor Don Baridam, confirmed that extensive consultations were held across the four Ogoni zones, involving local communities, traditional rulers, and the diaspora.
Baridam said the report reflects the collective will of the people, demanding:
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Structured participation in oil production
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Accelerated environmental cleanup and remediation
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A framework for sustainable development
NSA Ribadu, who presented the report, stressed that the exercise was not merely symbolic but aimed at restoring hope and trust after decades of neglect and conflict.
He revealed that stakeholders recommended forming an inter-agency task force comprising NNPCL, relevant ministries, and the Dialogue Committee to oversee implementation.
The recognition of the Ogoni Four comes nearly three decades after their execution, alongside Ken Saro-Wiwa and four others, ignited global condemnation and made Ogoniland a symbol of resistance against environmental injustice.
By honouring them with national titles, Tinubu said his administration seeks to heal wounds, restore dignity, and chart a new path of prosperity for Ogoniland and Nigeria at large.
