TINUBU CONFERS POSTHUMOUS NATIONAL HONOURS ON OGONI FOUR LEADERS

President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) posthumously on late Ogoni leaders Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage, known as the “Ogoni Four”. The announcement was made on Wednesday while President Tinubu received the report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee at the State House, Abuja.

The President urged the Ogoni people to embracex reconciliation and unity, saying, “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”.

Tinubu directed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to commence engagements between Ogoni communities, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting oil production in Ogoniland. He expressed encouragement at the consensus among Ogoni communities welcoming oil production resumption, pledging government support for shared prosperity.

“The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity,” President Tinubu stated. The Ogoni Four were executed in 1994 amid the region’s crisis, and their recognition marks a step towards addressing historical injustices.

National Security Adviser Ribadu affirmed the administration’s commitment to peace, stability, and development in the Niger Delta, promising strict implementation of directives for peace consolidation and redressing past injustices.