President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged stakeholders in Rivers State to embrace unity and reconciliation amongst the Ogoni people.
Tinubu who stated this while receiving Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara alongside leaders of Ogoni land in Aso Villa Abuja, charged them to set aside their historical grievances and work together to achieve peace, development and clean environment in their land.
According to the statement by his Presidential Aide on Media, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, quoting the president: “we cannot in anyway rewrite history, but we can correct some anomalies of the past going forward. We cannot heal the wounds if we continue to be angry.”
“We must work together with mutual trust.Go back home,do more consultations , and embrace others. We must make this trip worthwhile by bringing peace, development, and a clear environment back to Ogoniland,”
“It has been many years since your children and myself partnered to resist military dictatorship in this country. No one dreamt I would be in this chair as President, but we thank God.
“Many of your sons present here were my friends and co-travellers in the streets of Nigeria, Europe, and America.
“I know what to do in memory of our beloved ones so that their sacrifices will not be in vain,” the President said.
Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate the negotiations with various parties within Ogoniland.
In his remark , Governor Fubara thanked the President for his support of the Ogoni people and for welcoming an all-inclusive representation of the people to the Presidential Villa.
He however, used the importunity to solicit the importance of resuming oil operations in Ogoniland, the governor pledged the delegation’s commitment to adhering to the President’s instructions and providing the necessary support to achieve the government’s objectives.
“What we are doing here today is to concretise the love and respect we have for the President for being behind this meeting and for him to tell us to go back and continue the consultations with a timeline so that the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland will commence,” he said.
Amongst the people present in meeting were, Senator Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Bennett Birabi Barry. Mpigi, Chief Victor Giadom, Chief Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Leedom Mitee, as well as and Joe Poroma.
Also present were; the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, the Minister of Environment, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abba, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
