By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honours on four prominent Ogoni leaders in recognition of their sacrifice and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
The president made the announcement on Wednesday during a meeting with the Ogoni Consultations Committee at the State House in Abuja.
The honourees, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Badey, Chief Samuel Orage, and Chief Theophilus Orage, each awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
The four were killed in 1994, and their deaths became the basis for the controversial trial of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others, known as the Ogoni Nine, who were executed by the Sani Abacha regime the following year.
“May their memories continue to inspire unity, courage and purpose among us,” Tinubu said.
The president urged the Ogoni people to “close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us and move forward as a united community with one voice.”
He assured the communities of his administration’s commitment to peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival in the region.
Tinubu also expressed optimism about the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, describing it as a pathway to “shared prosperity.”
“I have 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,” Tinubu said.
“A dead asset is not valuable to the community, the country, or the people. The longer we procrastinate, the worse it is for everyone.”
He further instructed the minister of environment to integrate pollution cleanup and environmental recovery into ongoing talks with the Ogoni people.
National Security Adviser Ribadu presented the consultation committee’s report, confirming extensive engagement across all four Ogoni zones, including with traditional rulers, local communities, and the diaspora.
Don Baridam, chairman of the dialogue committee, said the report reflects “the collective will of the Ogoni people” and includes demands for participation in oil production, environmental cleanup, and sustainable development.
The latest honours for the Ogoni Four come three months after Tinubu, on Democracy Day, conferred national awards and granted a state pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other members of the Ogoni Nine, nearly three decades after their execution.
