Tinubu Honours Ogoni Four, moves to resume oil production in Ogoniland – Thage

President Bola Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honors of the commander of the Order of Niger (with) on the leaders of the deceased Ogoni Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Teofilo Orage and Samuel Orage, collectively known as “Ogoni Four”.

Speaking on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, while receiving the report of the Ogoni consultation committee, Tinubu said that the recognition underlines the commitment of his administration towards the rights and well -being of the Ogoni people.

He urged the people of Ogoniland to embrace reconciliation and unity after decades of division.

“They may continue to continue inspiring units, courage and purpose between us.

“I undermine the people of Ogoni between the classes, the communities and the generations to close the ranks, put this dark chapter behind and go on as a combined community with a single voice,” he said.

Tinubu has ensured the interested parties of the support of his government for peace, environmental reclamation and economic awakening of Ogoniland, adding that preparations were underway to resume the production of oil in the area.

“I am encouraged by the overwhelming consent of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production.

“The government will take every resource to support your people in this March towards shared prosperity,” he said.

The president recalled that in 2022, the previous administration delivered the functioning of the Ogoni oil field at the National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Nigerian and its joint venture partners.

He promised that his administration would honor and based on that decision.

He directed the National Security Councilor, Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately start the commitment between the Ogoni, Nnpcl people, his partners and other parties interested to finalize the methods for restarting the operations.

“A dead resource is not precious for the community, the country or the people. More procrastine, worse is for everyone”, for everyone “,

Tinubu said, while also instructing the Minister of the Environment to integrate pollution reclamation in the wider dialogue framework.

By presenting the Committee report, Ribadu said that the consultations involved all four areas Ogoni, traditional leaders, local communities and the diaspora, adding that the result would be a project for implementation.

The president of the Ogoni dialogue committee, Professor Don Baridam, said that the process was inclusive and reflected the aspirations of the Ogoni people.

He observed that the report acquired requests for participation structured in the production of oil, renewed commitment to environmental reclamation and the establishment of a framework of sustainable development.

The oil exploration in Ogoniland was interrupted in 1993 following protests against environmental degradation, culminating in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995.

Recall that on June 12, during the celebrations of the Day of Democracy of Nigeria, Tinubu also honored posthumous Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other members of the “Ogoni Nine”, guaranteeing them full presidential forgives in recognition of their sacrifice for environmental justice and human rights.