PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has posthumously conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four slain Ogoni leaders—Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage—popularly remembered as the Ogoni Four.
The announcement was made today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during the presentation of the Ogoni Consultation Committee’s report.
Tinubu described the honour as both symbolic and healing, urging the Ogoni people to put decades of division behind them and embrace reconciliation.
“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,” he said.
The President assured that his administration is committed to peacebuilding, environmental restoration, and the economic revival of Ogoniland.
He expressed optimism about the return of oil production in the area, which had been halted since 1993 after years of protests against environmental degradation and injustice.
“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 stated.
He further directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to begin immediate engagement between the Ogoni people, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), its partners, and other stakeholders to agree on modalities for restarting operations.
The Minister of Environment was also tasked with integrating pollution cleanup and recovery into the broader dialogue process.
The report, presented by Professor Don Baridam, chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, captured the people’s demands for structured participation in oil activities, environmental remediation, and sustainable development.
Baridam noted that the consultation drew input from all four Ogoni zones, traditional leaders, local communities, and the diaspora, making it a truly inclusive process.
Ribadu added that the report should serve as a blueprint for implementation, recommending an inter-agency task force involving NNPCL, relevant ministries, and the Dialogue Committee to oversee execution.
By conferring honours on the Ogoni Four and committing to oil resumption alongside environmental justice, Tinubu said the government aims to turn “pain into purpose and conflict into cooperation,” ensuring that the wealth beneath Ogoni soil becomes a blessing for its people and for Nigeria.