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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has posthumously conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the late Ogoni leaders Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage, collectively known as the “Ogoni Four.”
The President announced on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, while receiving the report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee.
This recognition of the Ogoni Four by President Tinubu showcases his administration’s enduring legacy and commitment to the rights and welfare of the Ogoni people, according to the government.
NEWS FLASH:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received the Report on the Ogoni Consultations from the Dialogue Committee, comprising key stakeholders of Ogoniland, led by Rivers State Governor, H.E. Siminalayi Fubara, at the State House Council Chambers. #Nigeria #Ogoni pic.twitter.com/QS6iToQ7xa
— Voice of Nigeria (@voiceofnigeria) September 24, 2025
The conferment was part of the acknowledgement of individuals who have contributed to Nigeria’s socio-political landscape and history.
Speaking to the Ogoni delegates, President Tinubu 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,” President Tinubu said.
The President assured stakeholders that his administration would support Ogoniland’s journey to peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival, while also facilitating the return of oil exploration to 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,” Tinubu 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, stressing that his government would honour and build on that decision.
Also, President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately commence engagement between the Ogoni people, NNPCL, its partners, and all relevant 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,” the President said, while also directing the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution remediation and environmental recovery into the broader framework of dialogue with the people.
President Tinubu further called on Ogoni indigenes to partner with the government in transforming wealth into more blessings for Nigeria
“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.”
Presenting the report earlier, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the consultation exercise engaged all four Ogoni zones, with input from local communities, traditional leaders, and the diaspora.
The NSA added that stakeholders have equally agreed that the report should serve as a blueprint for implementation, with an inter-agency task force comprising NNPCL, relevant ministries, and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee to drive execution.
The NSA emphasised that the process was not just about submitting a report but about restoring hope and trust in Ogoniland after years of neglect and conflict.
Also, speaking at the Ogoni report presentation, Governor of Rivers State Sim Fubara affirmed that there are clear indications the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is genuinely committed to resolving age long issues in Ogoniland.
“Fubara said that the presented report on Ogoni Consultations is a sign that this government is serious about resolving these issues, and I think we need to give them all the necessary opportunity and time to ensure that this problem is resolved once and for all.
“Let me thank the committee. I believe that the reason why I’m also speaking before the professor is because he has a better information, like I said, since I’ve been away for a while, to give us here, but so far, let me again thank the dialogue committee and assure everyone that would do everything humanly possible to make sure that we succeed on this national assignment.”
Inclusive Engagement
The Chairman of the Dialogue Committee, Professor Don Baridam, affirmed that the committee ensured inclusive engagement of all stakeholders throughout the consultation process.
He emphasised that the final report embodies the unified aspirations of the Ogoni people.
Baridom noted that the report comprehensively captures key demands from the community, including structured participation in oil production, a renewed commitment to environmental remediation, and the establishment of a sustainable development framework.
He added that collective mandate is to guide ongoing negotiations and policy formulation processes affecting Ogoni land.
Oil exploration in Ogoniland stopped in 1993 following sustained protests against environmental degradation and injustice, which culminated in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995.
Recall that President Tinubu recognised the ogoni nine on June 12th, during Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations, he granted posthumous national honours to the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other eight members of the Ogoni Nine, who were executed in 1995.
The President also exercised his presidential powers to grant them full pardons, commemorating their sacrifice in the struggle for environmental justice and human rights in Nigeria.