Breaking: Tinubu Gives NSA Nuhu Ribadu Fresh Order, "Dark Chapter"
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the national security adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately engage the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Ogoni people, and other relevant stakeholders with a view to finalising the modalities for the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, obtained by Legit.ng, President Tinubu issued the directive on Wednesday, September 24, following the presentation of the report by the presidential committee on the Ogoni consultations, chaired by Professor Don Baridam, at the State House in Abuja.
Source: Facebook
Governor Siminalayi of Rivers state led the Ogoni delegation to the ceremony.
The president also used the occasion to confer the posthumous national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four members of Ogoniland who died in the struggle to ensure environmental protection of their land. They are: Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Bade, Chief Samuel Orage, and Chief Theophilus Orage. In June, President Tinubu conferred national honours on Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, brutally killed by the Sani Abacha military regime.
While commending the Baridam committee for the dedication and wisdom its members demonstrated in guiding the process, the president urged the Ogoni people to close ranks and engage in dialogue, as the government will do its best to safeguard their environment.
President Tinubu said:
"We are not, as a government, taking lightly the years of pain endured in Ogoniland. We recognise that, otherwise, we would not be here today. The federal government truly acknowledges the long suffering of the Ogoni people, and today, we declare with conviction that hope is here and is back with us."
Ribadu gets new task from Tinubu
President Tinubu also acknowledged the struggles and sacrifices made by the Ogoni people in their quest for justice and environmental protection.
He directed Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the minister of environment, and the NSA to integrate programmes into a broader dialogue and implementation process.
Tinubu said:
"Accordingly, I am directing the National Security Adviser to commence immediately the engagement between the Ogoni people and NNPCL and all relevant stakeholders with a view to finalising modalities to begin operations. We must start by addressing non-valuable assets, which are of no benefit to the community, the country, or its people."
The president assured stakeholders of the government's determination to deploy the necessary resources to address the concerns of the Ogoni people and achieve shared prosperity.
He said:
"I urge Ogoni people across the communities and generations to close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us, and move forward as a united community. We have settled. This reconciliation is not an erasure of history but the commitment to write the next chapter together. I am encouraged by the overwhelming consensus of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production under an equitable tax system."
President Tinubu added that the federal government will deploy necessary resources to support the Ogoni people in their march towards shared prosperity.
Source: Legit.ng
