Brave Nigerians who faced the odds in challenging the military over the illegal annulment of the June 12 presidential election have come to honour today under the recognition of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In marking the Democracy Day 2025, Tinubu remembered many of those who he was in the trenches with awarding them national honours according to their grades.
Prominent among the awardees, many of them now late, are Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Chief James Ajibola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Mr. Chima Ubani, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Prof Wole Soyinka.
While the late Kudirat Abiola and Ige were conferred with CFR, Soyinka was conferred with GCON.
Tinubu reeled out the list of awardees Thursday during the Democracy Day celebration at the joint session of the National Assembly.
Other prominent June 12 activists who were honoured include the chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof Nwosu who was honoured with CON; Rear Admiral Kalu CON; Balarabe Musa CFR; Alex Ibru CON; Chief Reuben Fasoranti CFR; Alhaji Nurudeen Olowopopo CON; Olatunji Dare Bayo Onanuga, CON; Shehu Sani, Femi Falana (CON)
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- Kudirat Abiola (CFR)
- Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR)
- Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (CON)
- Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON)
- Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR)
- Pa. Alfred Rewani (CFR)
- Bagauda Kaltho (OON)
- Chima Ubani (OON)
- Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON)
- Alao Aka Bashorun (CON)
- Chief Frank Kokori (CON)
- Emma Ezeazu (OON)
- Bamidele Aturu (OON)
- Fredrick Fasehun (CON)
- Professor Festus Iyayi (CON)
- Dr John Yima Sen (OON)
- Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON)
- Dr. Edwin Madunagu (CON)
- Dr. Alex Ibru (CON)
- Chief Bola Ige (CFR)
- Pa. Reuben Fasoranti (CFR)
- Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON)
- Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON)
- and Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON)
Other Honourees Include;
- 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. Ame Ebute (CFR)
- Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu (CON)
Also conferred posthumous national honours were Ken Saro Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine and his fellow travellers, Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON).
Presiding National Assembly Officers were also honoured and they include;
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON – SENATE PRESIDENT
Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON – Speaker
Senator Jibrin Ibrahim Barau, CFR – DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR – Deputy Speaker