Nearly thirty years after their execution under General Sani Abacha’s military regime, four prominent Ogoni leaders have been posthumously honoured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their sacrifice in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
The late Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Badey, Chief Samuel Orage and Chief Theophilus Orage were each awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), one of the country’s highest national honours.
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The four were among the Ogoni Nine — a group of activists, including celebrated writer and environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa, whose execution on 10 November 1995 provoked global condemnation and triggered diplomatic sanctions against Nigeria.
In announcing the awards, Tinubu said the recognition was aimed at preserving the legacy of those who paid the ultimate price for justice, human rights and environmental protection.
“Their names will forever remain symbols of courage and conscience in our nation’s democratic journey. This honour is a reaffirmation that Nigeria remembers,” the President declared.
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The conferment has been welcomed by many in the Niger Delta as a long-overdue acknowledgement of the leaders’ role in resisting oppression and environmental degradation caused by decades of oil exploitation.
This gesture, seems like an attempt to heal historic wounds and rekindle dialogue on resource justice and development in the Niger Delta.
