Abuja – President Bola Tinubu has posthumously conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) national honour on Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage, the late Ogoni leaders remembered as the “Ogoni Four”. The announcement was made during a meeting at the State House, Abuja, where the President received the Ogoni Consultations Committee’s report.
President Tinubu used the occasion to call for unity and reconciliation among the Ogoni people, stating, “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”.
The recognition of the Ogoni Four comes amid efforts to restart oil production in Ogoniland, with the President directing National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to facilitate talks between Ogoni communities, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and other stakeholders. Tinubu expressed optimism about consensus among Ogoni communities welcoming oil production resumption.
“The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity,” President Tinubu said, highlighting administration commitment to peace, stability, and development in the Niger Delta region. The Ogoni Four were executed in 1994, and their posthumous honour marks a gesture towards addressing historical issues.
