As part of the activities marking the 27th Democracy Day celebration, President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians in recognition of their roles in the struggle for the return of democracy to the country and their sacrifices in advancing democratic governance.
Announcing the honours, Tinubu said the awardees endured persecution, imprisonment, exile, harassment and other forms of hardship during the fight to restore democratic rule in Nigeria.
According to the President, the recipients were being recognised for standing firm in defence of freedom and democratic values at critical moments in the nation’s history.
“I am pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today,” Tinubu said.
The names of the honouraries were announced by the President during his June 12 Democracy Day national broadcast on Friday, describing the awardees as the hero of the democracy the country enjoys today.
Those honoured include Ayoka Lawani, Tunde Fagbenle, the Minister of Mineral resources, Oladele Alake, the FCCPC boss Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Sir Ademola Osinubi, a journalist and contributor to The Guild column, Bola Bolawole, Lade Bonuola, Femi Kusa, Debo Adeniran, Ayo Opadokun, and Ralph Obiora.
Others were Ose Osayande, Osa Director, Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, Dr Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous), Dr Osagie Obayuwana, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe, Richard Akinnola, Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous), George Mbah, Dr Niran Malaolu, Major-General Ishola Williams (retd), Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju and Ike Okonta, were also honoured.
Also, the President honoured several military officers he described as “soldier-democrats” for their contributions to the June 12 struggle and the defence of democratic ideals.
The military recipients 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, and Colonel Isa Jibrin.
Similarly, Major General Joseph Oshanupin, Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba, Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus, Colonel J. Okai, Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Muazu and Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and holder of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) title, were honoured.
According to the President, the honours were intended to celebrate Nigerians who made significant sacrifices to secure the democratic freedoms currently enjoyed across the country.
The President added that the full honours list would be released in the coming days as part of activities marking Democracy Day.