By Ayodele Oni
Again, Tinubu Shuns Dele Momodu
Nigerians have started to react to the list of beneficiaries of national Honours as contained in the June 12 national broadcast by President Bola Tinubu.
From men of the pen profession to pro democracy activists, they conclude that the list is incomplete.
Not a few people noted that, as was the case in previous years, the President again, shunned Chief Dele Momodu among the list of Journalists honoured for their roles in the struggle for democracy.
Momodu was a close ally of Chief M.K.O Abiola, Nigeria’s symbol for democracy. He was forced into exile a situation which brought him closer to Tinubu, who was, also, in exile. Both men worked together while in exile.
Activist particularly cited the omission of retired Colonel Bello Fadile from the list of military officers honoured by President Bola Tinubu, while men of the pen profession described journalists whose names appeared on the list as “only those from Lagos axis of the media.”
Reacting through his facebook page, Mr Dare Fasube stated that “Not a single Photojournalist like late Baba Adefunpe Ojelabi of Punch, late Dada Osasona of Sun, late Najeem Raheem of Guardian, late Felix Ademola of Sketch that went out to give on the spot coverage of the protests, riots and rallies that were splashed in the Newspapers has not been recognize till date.
“Even the late Tunji Oyeleru of Vanguard, who died along with Chima Ubani in the same official car of Adams Oshiomole who was the NLC President then was also left out.”
Wale Ademowo, while congratulating his benefitting colleagues, insisted that ” the list is incomplete, it excludes those of Ibadan axis.”
Reacting to the announcement, concerned citizen and pro-democracy advocate, Chief Femi Olugbemi argued that Col Bello Fadile (rtd) deserves inclusion on the same list.
He noted that Fadile was Accused No.1 in the 1995 alleged coup plot under the Abacha regime, was sentenced to death and later to life imprisonment, before receiving a state pardon in 1999.
The statement said: “In as much as Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is on the list with Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, the Olugbede of Gbede, then Col Bello Fadile (rtd) should be included, being one of the major military officers that fought for democracy, which was why he was sentenced along other military officers whose names are on the list.”
He urged the President to correct the omission, stating that doing so would encourage others committed to defending democracy in Nigeria.
“Let the President correct the erroneous error to encourage others determined to fight for the overall success of democracy in Nigeria,” the statement added.
Col Bello Fadile, a retired Army officer and human rights lawyer, documented his experience in _Nine Lives: The Bello Fadile Memoirs_.
During his Democracy Day address, President Tinubu noted that the conferment of national honours was “not foreclosed”, indicating that future updates to the list remain possible
President Tinubu had announced national honours for several pro-democracy activists, journalists, politicians, and military officers who played key roles in the struggle to validate the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Among the military officers named were Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, the Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom.
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