Abuja: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has bestowed a national honour upon the Ogoni Four in recognition of their significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-political landscape and history. Speaking to Ogoni delegates, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of reconciliation and unity, urging the people of Ogoniland to move beyond the divisions of the past.
According to Voice of Nigeria, President Tinubu expressed his hopes that the memories of the Ogoni Four would inspire unity, courage, and purpose among the community. He encouraged the Ogoni people to come together as a united community, leaving behind past grievances. The President assured stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to supporting Ogoniland’s journey toward peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival, and he emphasized the government’s intention to facilitate the resumption of oil exploration in the area.
President Tinubu highlighted the decision made by the previous administration in 2022 to hand over the operation of the Ogoni oil field to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners. He assured that his government would honor and build on that decision. Additionally, President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to initiate dialogue among the Ogoni people, NNPCL, its partners, and all relevant stakeholders to finalize the modalities for restarting operations.
President Tinubu stressed the importance of transforming the wealth beneath Ogoni soil into blessings for the people and Nigeria. He urged Ogoni indigenes to partner with the government to turn conflict into cooperation. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, presenting a report earlier, highlighted extensive engagement with local communities, traditional leaders, and the diaspora, which is expected to serve as a blueprint for implementation.
Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, also expressed optimism about the Tinubu-led administration’s genuine commitment to resolving long-standing issues in Ogoniland. He voiced confidence in the government’s resolve to address these concerns and urged patience and support for the process.
Professor Don Baridam, Chairman of the Dialogue Committee, emphasized that the consultation process was inclusive, capturing the unified aspirations of the Ogoni people. The final report reflected key demands, such as structured participation in oil production, environmental remediation, and a sustainable development framework.
Oil exploration in Ogoniland ceased in 1993 following protests against environmental degradation and injustice, which led to the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995. President Tinubu had previously recognized the Ogoni Nine on June 12th, granting them posthumous national honors and full pardons during Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations.