<\/p>\n
By Samuel Adeola<\/p>\n
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his maiden State of the Nation address on Democracy Day, honoured more than 80 Nigerians, both living and deceased, for their extraordinary roles in advancing democracy and justice in the country.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja to commemorate 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, the President paid glowing tributes to iconic figures in Nigeria\u2019s pro-democracy movement.<\/p>\n
He also granted a symbolic state pardon to the Ogoni Nine, the environmental activists executed in 1995 under the Abacha regime, saying full pardons would follow consultations with the National Council of State.<\/p>\n
Among those honoured posthumously were Chief MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, and his wife, Kudirat Abiola, who was conferred with the CFR.<\/p>\n
Environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa received the CON, while his fellow Ogoni Nine members; Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine\u2014were all awarded the OON.<\/p>\n
Others posthumously recognised included Major General Shehu Musa Yar\u2019Adua, who received the GCFR, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Pa Alfred Rewane, Chima Ubani, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chief Alao Aka-Bashorun, Chief Frank Kokori, and journalist Bagauda Kaltho.<\/p>\n
Also remembered for their contributions were Emma Ezeazu, Bamidele Aturu, Fredrick Fasehun, Prof. Festus Iyayi, Dr. John Yima Sen, Alhaja Gambo Sawaba, Dr. Edwin Madunagu, Dr. Alex Ibru, Chief Bola Ige, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Senator Polycarp Nwite, and Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo.<\/p>\n
Among the living honourees, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka received the GCON, while veteran journalist and columnist Prof. Olatunji Dare was awarded the CON.<\/p>\n
Others honoured included Kunle Ajibade, Nosa Igiebor, Dapo Olorunyomi, Ayo Obe, and Seye Kehinde, all receiving the OON. Bayo Onanuga and Dare Babarinsa received the CON.<\/p>\n
Legal and human rights figures honoured included Femi Falana, SAN, Barrister Felix Morka, Barrister Ledum Mitee, and Prof. Shafideen Amuwo, all conferred with the CON.<\/p>\n
Also recognised were Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Hon. Labaran Maku, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Mr. Nick Dazang, Hon. Abdul Oroh, Barrister Luke Aghanenu, poet Odia Ofeimun, Hon. Olawale Osun, Dr. Amos Akingba, and Prof. Segun Gbadegesin, who received varying honours including CON and OON.<\/p>\n
Others who made the list of honourees were Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Prof. Bayo Williams, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Dr. Kayode Shonoiki, and Senator Ameh Ebute.<\/p>\n
Veteran journalist and publisher Sam Amuka Pemu, founder of Vanguard Newspapers, was also honoured with the CON just a day before his 90th birthday.<\/p>\n
President Tinubu also decorated presiding officers of the National Assembly who had previously received national honours, reaffirming his administration\u2019s commitment to celebrating patriots and preserving the legacies of Nigeria\u2019s democratic champions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Samuel Adeola President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his maiden State of the Nation address on Democracy Day, honoured more than 80 Nigerians, both living and deceased, for their extraordinary roles in advancing democracy and justice in the country. Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja to commemorate 26 years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":67943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-67942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-featured"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67942"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67944,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67942\/revisions\/67944"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}