President Bola Tinubu has paid tributes to citizens who made great sacrifices for the nation to attain democracy. Speaking in a special broadcast to mark June 12, which was declared as Democracy Day by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu said those being honoured did a lot to achieve democracy for the country.
According to him, “Today, we honour the resilience of Nigerians who refused to surrender their faith in freedom, and the courage of those who stood firm against intimidation. We pay tribute to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile, and even death so that future generations could enjoy democracy. I salute labour leaders, journalists, activists, students, women, professionals, political leaders, and soldiers—both those who have passed and those still with us—for their patriotic contributions.”
To honour them the president announced award of national honours on Lade Bonuola, former managing director of The Guardian, Femi Kusa, former director of Publications of The Guardian, Ayoka Lawani, Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello and Louis Odion.
Others are Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Sir Ademola Osinubi, Bola Bolawole, Debo Adeniran, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Chief Ralph Obiora, Ose Osayande, Osa Director, Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine and Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous).
Also honoured are 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 (rtd), Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju and Ike Okonta.
The president also recognized those he described in his speech as “the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle”. These are Major General MA Garba, Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Col Umar Farouk Ahmed; Col Sambo Dasuki; Col Lawan Gwadabe; Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong and Col Musa Shehu.
Others are Major General Chris Eze; Major General Harris Dzarma; Col Isa Jibrin; Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin; Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom), Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus and Col J Okai.
Also on the list are Col Emmanuel Ndubueze; Lt Col Yakubu Muazu, Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.
