President Bola Tinubu has conferred a national honour on Barrister Osa Director, the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), as part of the 2026 Democracy Day celebrations.
The recognition comes despite the President belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a nationwide broadcast marking 27 years of unbroken civilian rule, President Tinubu announced national awards for 51 Nigerians who fought against military dictatorship during the historic June 12 struggle.
Director, a lawyer, investigative journalist, and pro-democracy activist, rose to prominence in the 1990s as a senior journalist for TELL Magazine.
He was targeted and incarcerated by the Sani Abacha military regime for his critical reporting and opposition to military rule. He later managed Insider Weekly magazine as Editor-in-Chief and served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the African Bar Association.
The President honored Director alongside other pro-democracy activists, media veterans, and retired military officers who opposed military junta regimes.
The honours list includes APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe, National Democratic Coalition chieftains Chief Ayo Opadokun and Chief Ralph Obioha, and retired military officers such as Colonel Sambo Dasuki and the Etsu Nupe, Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar.
During his address, President Tinubu paid tribute to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, noting that those recognized suffered persecution, exile, and incarceration to secure the democracy Nigeria enjoys today.
According to Tinubu, the official honors list details will be released in the coming days.
Those conferred awards are as follows:
They are 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 Arthur Nwankwo (posthumously), Dr Osagie Obayuwana, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Barrister Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe, Richard Akinnola, Ben Charles-Obi (posthumously), George Mbah, Dr Niran Malaolu, Major-General Ishola Williams (retd), Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju and Ike Okonta.
The President further recognised the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle, namely Major General M.A. Garba, Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Colonel Umar Farouk Ahmed, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, Brigadier General Jonathan Ndam Temlong, Colonel Musa Shehu, Major General Chris Eze, Major General Harris Dzarma, Colonel Isa Jibrin, Major General Joseph Oshanupin, Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba, the Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom, Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus, Colonel J. Okai, Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Muazu and Brigadier General Yahaya Abubakar, the current Etsu Nupe and a holder of the CFR national honour.