President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, politicians and military officers who played key roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democratic rule, saying their sacrifices helped secure the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
The President made the announcement on Friday during his Democracy Day address marking 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in Nigeria.
Tinubu said the awardees endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and other hardships during the struggle against military rule and the campaign to actualise the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
“Today, we honour the resilience of Nigerians who refused to surrender their faith in freedom, and the courage of those who stood firm against intimidation,” the President said.
“We pay tribute to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile, and even death so that future generations could enjoy democracy.”
The President paid tribute to several heroes of the June 12 struggle, including Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Frank Kokori, Arthur Nwankwo, Chima Ubani and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
Tinubu also announced that the Federal Government had approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” he said.
The President further unveiled a list of Nigerians to receive national honours for their contributions to the democratic struggle.
They include Barrister Ayoka Lawani, Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Sir Ademola Osinubi, Bola Bolawole, Lade Bonuola, Femi Kusa, Debo Adeniran, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Chief Ralph Obiora, Ose Osayande, Barrister Osa Director, Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Barrister Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe, Richard Akinnola, George Mbah, Dr Niran Malaolu, Major-General Ishola Williams (retd), Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju and Ike Okonta.
Posthumous honours will also be conferred on Dr Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi.
The President equally recognised military officers he described as “soldier-democrats” for their roles during the June 12 struggle.
They include Major General M.A. Garba, Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Colonel Umar Farouk Ahmed, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong, Colonel Musa Shehu, Major General Chris Eze, Major General Harris Dzarma, Colonel Isa Jibrin, Major General Joseph Oshanupin, Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba, Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus, Colonel J. Okai, Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze and Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Muazu.
Tinubu said Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and holder of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) title, was also recognised.
According to the President, the full honours list will be released in the coming days.
“The greatest tribute we can pay is to build a Nigeria where freedom is protected, justice is upheld, opportunity is expanded, and government is accountable,” he said.