Tinubu Confers National Honours On Kudirat, Saro-Wiwa, 64 Others

… Pardons Saro-Wiwa, Others

President Bola Tinubu, during a joint session of the National Assembly to mark the 2025 Democracy Day, announced the conferment of national honours on a long list of individuals who played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

This includes posthumous awards to prominent figures like Kudirat Abiola, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and members of the Ogoni Nine.

President Tinubu also decorated the presiding officers of the National Assembly with previously conferred honours.

In his address, Tinubu paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari for “rectifying a national misdeed by making June 12 Democracy Day and by officially acknowledging Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe, as the victors and thus duly elected President and Vice President respectively of Nigeria after the June 12, 1993 elections.”

He added, “Year by year, election after election, every time we debate instead of battle, discuss instead of fight, and argue instead of destroy, we preserve the institutions of democracy. More importantly, we weave the culture of democracy into the very fabric of our nation.

“Whilst Chief MKO Abiola is June 12’s central figure, we must not forget the long list of those who equally deserve to be called heroes of Nigerian democracy.”

He acknowledged the courage of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane, who were “murdered by agents of military repression,” and remembered “the many civil rights activists, journalists, and politicians imprisoned, exiled, tossed aside, tortured and beaten by the military regime.”

Tinubu recognised several other prominent figures such as Chief Anthony Enahoro, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Ganiyu Dawodu, the journalist Bagauda Kaltho, and Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu, stressing that their mention served “not to exclude or degrade the profound contributions of anyone else, but to illustrate, through these few heroes, the universality of our pursuit of democracy.”

The president further commended the National Assembly for upholding democratic ideals and stopping a third-term bid in 2006 and its invocation of the doctrine of necessity in 2010.

He also recounted instances of defiance against military rule by some members, including Senator Ameh Ebute, who were subsequently jailed.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, I commend your invaluable role in lawmaking, oversight, and constituency representation,” he stated.

Announcing the awards, President Tinubu said, “As we mark a twenty-sixth year of unbroken democracy, it is right to honour those who have made sacrifices in the past, braving all the odds and the guns to ensure we have a regime of democracy in our country.”

The recipients of the national honours are:
Kudirat Abiola (CFR, posthumous)
Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR, posthumous)
Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (CON, posthumous)
Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON, posthumous)
Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR, posthumous)
Pa. Alfred Rewane (CFR, posthumous)
Bagauda Kaltho (OON, posthumous)
Chima Ubani (OON, posthumous)
Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON, posthumous)
Alao Aka Bashorun (CON, posthumous)
Chief Frank Kokori (CON, posthumous)
Emma Ezeazu (OON, posthumous)
Bamidele Aturu (OON, posthumous)
Fredrick Fasehun (CON, posthumous)
Professor Festus Iyayi (CON, posthumous)
Dr. John Yima Sen (OON, posthumous)
Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON, posthumous)
Dr. Edwin Madunagu (CON, posthumous)
Dr. Alex Ibru (CON, posthumous)
Chief Bola Ige (CFR, posthumous)
Pa. Reuben Fasoranti (CFR, posthumous)
Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON, posthumous)
Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON, posthumous)
Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON, posthumous)
Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON)
Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON)
Kunle Ajibade (OON)
Nosa Igiebor (OON)
Dapo Olorunyomi (OON)
Bayo Onanuga (CON)
Ayo Obe (OON)
Dare Babarinsa (CON)
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON)
Senator Shehu Sani (CON)
Governor Uba Sani (CON)
Barrister Femi Falana, SAN (CON)
Prof. Shafideen Amuwo (CON)
Barrister Luke Aghanenu (OON)
Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi (CON)
Hon. Labaran Maku (OON)
Dr. Tunji Alausa (CON)
Mr. Nick Dazang (OON)
Hon. Abdul Oroh (OON)
Odia Ofeimun (CON)
Seye Kehinde (OON)
Barrister Felix Morka (CON)
Barrister Ledum Mitee (CON)
Hon. Olawale Osun (CON)
Dr. Amos Akingba (CON)
Prof. Segun Gbadegesin (CON)
Mobolaji Akinyemi (CFR)
Dr. Kayode Shonoiki (CON)
Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (CON)
Prof. Bayo Williams (CON)
Sen. Abu Ibrahim (CFR)
Sen. Ameh Ebute (CFR)
Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu (CON)
Ken Saro Wiwa (CON, posthumous)
Saturday Dobee (OON, posthumous)
Nordu Eawo (OON, posthumous)
Daniel Gbooko (OON, posthumous)
Paul Levera (OON, posthumous)
Felix Nuate (OON, posthumous)
Baribor Bera (OON, posthumous)
Barinem Kiobel (OON, posthumous)
John Kpuine (OON, posthumous)
Tinubu also announced that he would be exercising his powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant a full pardon to Ken Saro Wiwa and his fellow travellers, along with others whose names would be announced later.

Finally, the president decorated the presiding officers of the National Assembly with national honours earlier conferred upon them: Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio (GCON) as Senate President, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD (GCON) as Speaker, Senator Jibrin Ibrahim Barau (CFR) as Deputy Senate President, and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (CFR) as Deputy Speaker.

In his concluding remarks, President Tinubu urged Nigerians to “rededicate ourselves to the ideals of June 12; freedom, transparent and accountable government, social justice, active citizen participation, and a just society where no one is oppressed.”

Tinubu Confers National Honours On Kudirat, Saro-Wiwa, 64 Others is first published on The Whistler Newspaper