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…Ribadu reaffirms president’s directives on Niger Delta peace, development
…Mitee, others applaud Tinubu’s action
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, honoured Ogoni Four, with posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
The honours were conferred on the late Ogoni leaders, Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage, collectively remembered as the “Ogoni Four.”
The president announced the honours while receiving the report of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee at the State House, Abuja, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
The president, while conferring the honours award on the recipients, urged the people of Ogoniland to embrace reconciliation and unity after decades of division.
The president also prayed that the memory of the Ogoni Four would inspire greater unity amongst the people
“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.
Read also: Oil production: Fubara leads leads Ogoni leaders to meet Tinubu
He also pledged his administration’s support for peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival in Ogoniland, while confirming plans to facilitate the resumption of oil production in 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,” the president declared.
President Tinubu recalled that in 2022 the previous administration handed the operatorship of the Ogoni oil field to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its partners, and stressed that his government would build on that decision
In January this year, the president had announced that the Federal Government would commence oil production in the community after over 30 years of redundancy
He directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to begin engagements between Ogoni communities, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations.
He also tasked the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution remediation into ongoing dialogue with the people.
In his reports, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA, reported that the consultations engaged all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, capturing demands for structured participation in oil production, accelerated cleanup and sustainable development.
Also, Don Baridam, Chairman of the Dialogue Committee, said the report reflects the collective will of the Ogoni people and should serve as a blueprint for implementation through an inter-agency taskforce.
Fielding questions after the event, Ribadu reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to peace, stability, and inclusive development in the Niger Delta.
He said the administration would strictly implement all directives to consolidate peace and correct past injustices.
Read also: Is oil resumption or genuine sympathy reason for presidential pardon of Ogoni 9?
“Peace is being restored already, and Nigerians will soon see the benefits, not just in Ogoniland, but across the Niger Delta and beyond,” Ribadu assured.
Oil exploration in Ogoniland has been suspended since 1993 following protests against environmental degradation, culminating in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995.
Also speaking with the State House Journalists, after the meeting, Ledum Mitee, prominent Nigerian lawyer, as well as Civil and environmental rights advocate, expressed support for the ongoing government efforts to restore peace that will pave way for return of oil production in Ogoniland
Mitee is known for his courageous activism against environmental degradation and social injustice caused by oil exploration in Ogoniland. Mitee was a key member of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP):
According to him, ” Well, we came here to present a report, and we are leaving here with the hope that something practical is being done and that our matters have received a hearing at the highest level.”
He described it as the beginning of a new dawn in Ogoniland and “in fact, the rest of Nigeria”
“I have been one of those who have said over the years that, if only to show that non-violence as a means of manipulation succeeds, then the Ogoni thing should succeed.
“And I think what has happened today has the kingdom and people a model for reconciliation and for peace to reign.
“The President had directed an immediate engagement be done on those reports, but there were some Confidence Building Measures that we even embarked upon, even while the conversation was going on and considerable progress have been done in those areas, in terms of targeted employment, in terms of the University of environmental technology, they’ve also got an industrial park, a process of commencing an industrial park.
“Some of these things were concrete steps that were taken while the dialogue was going on, and the process is receiving attention and direct presidential directive at the highest level, the kingdom’s hope, as I said, not just for our people, but for others to know that non-violence can also succeed”, he added.
Read also: Ogoni monarchs back appoint of HYPREP BoT chairman by Tinubu
Ken Kobani, son of Edward Kobani, one of the Ogoni Four leaders who were tragically murdered in 1994, also applauded the President’s action
“I don’t know what to say, because what the President has done today has shown that Nigeria can actually be a better place
“No matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, in the end, not only Ogoni will become a better place, but Nigeria as a whole is on the right path.”
He thanked President Tinubu and the NSA for the tedious work they’ve done in bringing all this together.
“I’m a bit emotional at the moment, but my father and the other three would today at least be very happy that their efforts have been recognized”.
