A prominent Chief, Elder, and one of the last surviving signatories to the historic “Ogoni Bill of Rights”, Matthew Tornwe has issued a powerful open letter to the Federal Government of Nigeria, calling for urgent action on environmental restoration, resource control, and justice for the Ogoni people.

In the letter, written few days ago,Tornwe paints a grim picture of continued environmental degradation in Ogoniland due to decades of unchecked oil exploration. He called on the government to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report in full, stressing that while total restoration may be impossible, significant steps must be taken to address the ongoing environmental crisis and secure a healthier future for the people.

At the core of his appeal is “Miidekor”, a concept he first introduced in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which argues that the people who own the land must also control the wealth beneath it. He emphasized that without local control over their natural resources, the Ogoni people will never attain true dignity, prosperity, or self-determination.

“Only when the people who suffer the consequences of resource extraction are allowed to guide how those resources are managed, can there be genuine progress,”

He also stressed that any future conversation about restarting oil operations in Ogoniland must begin with a firm commitment to righting the wrongs of the past. According to him, trust can only be built when historical injustices such as environmental destruction and the marginalization of the Ogoni people are addressed transparently and fairly.

In a proactive move, Tornwe invited members of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee and other stakeholders to visit Indigenous communities in Canada. These communities, he noted, have successfully taken control of their natural resources while preserving their cultural identity and promoting sustainable development.

He believes these examples could guide the Ogoni people in finding a path that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility.

Tornwe’s letter is a clarion call to both the government and the Ogoni people to act with urgency and unity, reminding the nation that the future of Ogoniland must be one of justice, equity, and environmental healing.