- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has on Wednesday received the report on the Ogoni Consultations from the Dialogue Committee led by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
As disclosed in a post shared on X by Tinubu’s social media aide, Dada Olusegun, the committee comprising of Ogoniland stakeholders, including traditional rules, clergymen, and community leaders met with the President at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja.
This is reportedly coming months after the stakeholder’s last meeting with the President where the committee was formed.
With issues ranging from environmental restoration, possible resumption of oil activities under sustainable terms, to economic development, raised at the meeting held in January, Tinubu had directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate consultations.
The President had in what was considered an historical meeting assured Ogoni leaders on Tuesday in Abuja that his administration would prioritize peace, justice, and sustainable development in the area.
He acknowledged the historical challenges faced by the Ogoni people and noted the need for reconciliation and progress.
“We cannot in any way rewrite history, but we can correct some anomalies of the past going forward. We cannot heal the wounds if we continue to be angry,” Tinubu had said.
According to reports, the outcome of the consultations is expected to guide efforts to accelerate the cleanup and support development projects in the area which had over the years faced extensive environmental damage from oil exploration dating back to the 1950s.
A 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report detailed widespread pollution and recommended a clean-up.