President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Fegalo Nsuke, has declared that the long-standing struggle of the Ogoni people has not been in vain, expressing optimism that decades of uncertainty are giving way to a new era of peace, development and prosperity.
Speaking at the Ogoni National Rally held at the Bera Central Field in Gokana Kingdom on Saturday, August 1, 2026, Nsuke said the dialogue process initiated by the Federal Government marks a historic turning point in the quest for justice and development for Ogoniland.
He recalled that the renewed engagement began on January 21, 2025, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Office of the National Security Adviser to commence an Ogoni-led dialogue process.
According to him, the process culminated in the submission of recommendations by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee to the President on September 24, 2025.
Reflecting on the 36-year struggle of the Ogoni people, Nsuke acknowledged the enormous sacrifices made by the community in pursuit of freedom, environmental justice and sustainable development.
“For 36 years, we have been on this journey in search of freedom, development, peace and happiness. That journey has been very costly. Many of us were victims of those difficult years, losing loved ones and enduring severe repression. However, your struggles have not been in vain,” he said.
He added that he now has confidence to tell the Ogoni people that “the story has changed” and that “the uncertainties of the past are paving the way to a new and prosperous Ogoni.”
Nsuke described the ongoing dialogue as the first time a Nigerian administration had chosen an Ogoni-driven consultation process instead of attempting to resume oil exploration without addressing the concerns of the people.
He commended President Tinubu for what he described as his peaceful approach to resolving the Ogoni question and praised the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for his commitment to the dialogue process.
According to him, history would remember Ribadu for championing efforts to resolve one of Nigeria’s most notable human rights challenges through dialogue.
The MOSOP president also paid tribute to the pioneers of the Ogoni struggle, saying their courage and sacrifices ensured the survival of the movement during its most difficult years.
He urged the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of the dialogue outcomes with greater clarity, noting that the current atmosphere presents the strongest indication yet of government’s willingness to address the Ogoni question in a manner that accommodates the aspirations of the people.
Calling for unity among the Ogoni people, Nsuke appealed to veterans of the struggle to embrace dialogue as the pathway to lasting peace.
“While discussions with the government on implementing our demands and development needs are still ongoing, we cannot continue to prolong the conflict when other parties are extending a hand of friendship,” he said.
Reaffirming MOSOP’s commitment to non-violence, Nsuke stressed that dialogue remains the most effective means of resolving the decades-long dispute, urging the people to seize what he described as a historic opportunity to secure a brighter future for Ogoniland.
Nwaorgu Faustinus
