A former Senator of the Third Republic, Benneth Birabi, has publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to honor the Ogoni 9, describing the gesture as misguided.
In an interview, Senator Birabi stated that the Ogoni 9 were not martyrs but perpetrators of violence, asserting that they exploited the poverty-stricken community for their own gains. He warned that any move to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land must be grounded in respect for the community’s social structure, history, and the painful lessons of the past.
Birabi, who has been a prominent figure in the Ogoni struggle, accused past and current administrations of treating the Ogoni people as if they lack agency. He emphasized that the Ogoni community is independent and cannot be manipulated or coerced.
His remarks have reignited debates over the future of oil exploration in Ogoni and the importance of respecting the community’s rights and history.
