President decorates journalists, activists, and lawmakers in symbolic Democracy Day gesture
In a historic Democracy Day address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday conferred national honours on dozens of Nigerians both living and deceased who played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggles, while also granting posthumous presidential pardons to the late environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa and his fellow Ogoni activists.
Addressing a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, the president said the gesture was part of efforts to “formally recognise the sacrifices of those who risked or gave their lives to secure and sustain democracy in Nigeria.”
Posthumous Honours
Among those conferred with posthumous honours were late political and civil rights figures such as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR), Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON), Pa Alfred Rewane (CFR), Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR), Chief Bola Ige (CFR), Fredrick Fasehun (CON), and Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON).
Journalists and human rights activists like Bagauda Kaltho, Chima Ubani, and Bamidele Aturu were also recognised with posthumous awards.
Recognition for Living Icons
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the second-highest national honour. Other prominent Nigerians honoured include Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), Barrister Femi Falana, SAN (CON), and Senator Shehu Sani (CON).
Veteran journalists and media practitioners, such as Dapo Olorunyomi, Kunle Ajibade, Nosa Igiebor, and Ayo Obe, were each decorated with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) or Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) titles.
President Tinubu also announced a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honour for media icon Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, in celebration of his contributions to journalism ahead of his 90th birthday on June 13.
The Ogoni Nine Pardoned
In a significant move aimed at national reconciliation, President Tinubu announced full presidential pardons for Ken Saro-Wiwa (CON) and the eight other members of the Ogoni Nine who were executed in 1995 under the Sani Abacha regime. All nine were also posthumously awarded national honours.
The president described the pardons as “a moral imperative” and said they would be followed by a broader review of pardon requests in collaboration with the National Council of State.
Those posthumously honoured alongside Saro-Wiwa include: Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine (all OON).
National Assembly Leaders Decorated
To round off the ceremony, President Tinubu formally decorated the principal officers of the National Assembly with honours conferred on them in 2023:
Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senate President – GCON
Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker, House of Representatives – GCON
Senator Jibrin Barau, Deputy Senate President – CFR
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker – CFR
President Tinubu said the honours were a reminder of the price paid for democracy and a call for a renewed commitment to good governance.
“Today, we do not just mark Democracy Day,we celebrate the courage of those who paved the way,” he said.
