Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for unity among the Ogoni people.
Governor Fubara made the call as the Ogonis mark this year’s Ogoni Day, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering support for the historic struggle for justice, environmental remediation and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
In a goodwill message to commemorate the occasion, Governor Fubara described Ogoni Day as a profound symbol of resilience, cultural pride and collective resistance, noting that the Ogoni struggle remains one of the most defining narratives in Nigeria’s socio-political history.
In a statement dated January 4, 2026, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, Governor Fubara paid glowing tribute to the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), acknowledging its pioneering role in deploying peaceful advocacy to draw global attention to issues of environmental degradation, human rights abuses and social inequities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
According to the governor, the sacrifices, courage and perseverance of the Ogoni people have not only shaped national consciousness but have also influenced international discourse on environmental justice and democratic accountability.
Fubara said Ogoni Day provides a solemn moment for reflection and a renewed commitment to the ideals that have sustained the Ogoni cause over the decades, despite persistent challenges.
He urged Ogoni leaders, elders and key stakeholders to set aside internal divisions within MOSOP and the broader Ogoni community, stressing that unity of purpose is critical to advancing the collective aspirations of the people.
The governor noted that the call for unity is especially timely, given what he described as renewed efforts by the Federal Government through dialogue processes aimed at addressing long-standing grievances in Ogoniland.
He assured that the Rivers State Government remains firmly committed to supporting a united MOSOP and a cohesive Ogoni nation, pledging continued backing for initiatives that promote peace, reconciliation, dialogue and sustainable development across Ogoniland and the state at large.
Ogoni Day is an annual event observed on January 4 to commemorate the identity, resilience and long-standing struggle of the Ogoni people of Rivers State, Nigeria, for environmental justice, political inclusion and socio-economic rights.
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The celebration traces its roots to the early 1990s, following the emergence of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) as a unified platform for articulating Ogoni grievances against decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in Ogoniland.
On January 4, 1993, more than 300,000 Ogoni people staged a historic, peaceful mass rally, drawing unprecedented national and international attention to their demands for environmental remediation, fair resource control and respect for human rights.
That landmark mobilisation marked a turning point in Nigeria’s environmental justice movement and firmly established January 4 as Ogoni Day.
The date later gained deeper significance after the execution of MOSOP leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists in 1995, which further globalised the Ogoni struggle and transformed Ogoni Day into a symbol of sacrifice, resistance and moral courage.
