President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, September 24, conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four late Ogoni leaders, collectively known as the ‘Ogoni Four’. The distinguished awardees are Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage. This significant announcement was made by the President at the State House, Abuja, while receiving the comprehensive report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee.

The honour comes nearly three decades after the tragic deaths of the Ogoni Four, who were killed and burnt in 1994. Their deaths became a pivotal event, forming the basis for the trial and subsequent execution of renowned environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others, known as the ‘Ogoni Nine’, by the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995. This episode drew widespread global outrage and led to international sanctions against Nigeria. Notably, this posthumous recognition for the Ogoni Four follows President Tinubu's earlier act, three months prior on Democracy Day, when he conferred national awards and granted a state pardon to Saro-Wiwa and the other members of the Ogoni Nine.

During the ceremony, President Tinubu seized the opportunity to issue a powerful call for reconciliation and unity among the people of Ogoniland, urging them to overcome decades of social and political division. He stated, “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 further affirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to supporting peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival in Ogoniland. A key aspect of this commitment includes plans to facilitate the resumption of oil production in the area, a move he highlighted was encouraged by an overwhelming consensus from the Ogoni communities. “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,” the President declared.

Building on the 2022 transition of the operatorship of the Ogoni oil fields to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners, President Tinubu outlined concrete steps for restarting operations. He directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately initiate engagements between the Ogoni people, NNPCL, its partners, and all relevant stakeholders to finalize the modalities for resuming oil exploration, which has been suspended since 1993. The President emphasized the economic rationale, stating, “A dead asset is not valuable to the community, the country or the people. The longer we procrastinate, the worse it is for everyone.”

Addressing the critical issue of environmental degradation, President Tinubu instructed the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution remediation and environmental recovery as fundamental components of the ongoing dialogue with the Ogoni people. He eloquently expressed his vision for the region’s future, urging, “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.”

The report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee, which spurred these developments, was presented by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu confirmed that the consultation process involved extensive stakeholder engagement across all four Ogoni zones, including local communities, traditional rulers, and the diaspora. He characterized the consultation as a "transformational process meant to restore hope and trust in Ogoniland after years of neglect and conflict," and affirmed that an inter-agency taskforce, comprising NNPCL, relevant ministries, and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, would oversee the implementation of the report’s recommendations.

Don Baridam, the chairman of the dialogue committee, underscored that the report truly reflects "the collective will of the Ogoni people." He further noted that the report includes significant demands for structured participation in oil production, comprehensive environmental cleanup initiatives, and robust sustainable development frameworks for the region.