The family of the late Mr. Albert Badey on Saturday in Port Harcourt marked his 90th posthumous birthday, using the occasion to call for peace as the foundation for progress in Ogoniland.
Badey, a former Secretary to the Government of the old Rivers State, was killed by a mob on May 21, 1995, alongside three other Ogoni leaders—collectively known as the “Ogoni Four”—at Giokoo, Gokana Local Government Area, during a meeting to address Ogoni issues.
The killings occurred at the height of the Ogoni crisis, which later led to the trial and conviction of writer and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others. Last year, the Federal Government conferred national honours on Badey and the three others killed with him, and granted pardons to the nine convicted persons.
Despite the painful history, the Badey family said it has chosen the path of reconciliation.
“This is the time to move forward. We have no more grudges in our hearts. There is no need for continuous acrimony,” said Mr. Suage Badey, son of the deceased.
He urged Ogoni people to embrace dialogue in resolving differences but cautioned against actions that could endanger lives. “If my father were alive, he would have called for forgiveness, even for those who took his life,” he added.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Albert Badey Centre for Development (ABCD), established to promote the ideals and values the late statesman stood for.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and associates, including former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby; Dr. Emmanuel Denenu; Mr. Harcourt Adukeh; and Senator Bennet Burabi.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma. Other dignitaries included Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, Ambassador-designate to Ireland, Chief Onueze Okocha, and veteran journalist Donu Kogbara, all of whom spoke highly of Badey’s legacy.
Earlier, at a church service, the Methodist Archbishop of Port Harcourt, Most Rev. Effiong Esedeke, likened Badey to Burkina Faso’s former leader, Thomas Sankara, describing both men as visionaries who were ultimately betrayed.
Badey is credited with influencing key developmental strides in Ogoniland, including the siting of Rivers State Polytechnic (now Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic), the establishment of highland oil palm plantations, and the creation of four local government areas.
A distinguished scholar, he graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1962 after recording the best Higher School Certificate result in West Africa in 1958 at Methodist College, Uzuakoli. He served in the civil service of the defunct Eastern Nigeria and old Rivers State, rising to the position of Permanent Secretary in 1973.
He hailed from Bodo City in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
