Posthumous Honours: Presidency Admits Listing Living Among Dead

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidency has issued a formal apology after wrongly listing two living Nigerian icons, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Dr. Edwin Madunagu, under the Posthumous Honours category during President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly.

In a statement released hours later by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government admitted the error and said it was already working to correct it across all State House platforms.

“Under the Posthumous Award category, the names of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the Afenifere leader, and Dr. Edwin Madunagu were incorrectly included.

“Both distinguished individuals are very much alive and, therefore, should not have appeared in the posthumous category.”

He described the blunder as “an oversight” and assured Nigerians that necessary updates would be made to reflect the correct status of the honourees.

“We sincerely regret this oversight. We shall make the necessary corrections across all State House digital platforms,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sunusi Musa, has questioned the criteria used in awarding national honours, citing the exclusion of some individuals who were involved in the pro-democracy struggle following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Writing on his verified Facebook page, Musa acknowledged the recognition of certain individuals but argued that the list was incomplete.

“The Awardees of the National Honors today, are those who sustained the struggle for June 12 election.

“Though I have seen the name of Gen Yar’Adua and Gambo Sawaba in it. By whatever criteria, if Yar’Adua and Sawaba are qualified for the award based on June 12 struggle, then Abubakar Rimi, Sule Lamido, Tony Anenih, Col Dangiwa Umar and Atiku Abubakar are equally qualified.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred national honours on 65 Nigerians, both living and deceased, citing their roles in democracy, public service, and civic responsibility.

Musa argued that figures such as the late Abubakar Rimi, former Governor Sule Lamido, Tony Anenih, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also played important roles and should have been recognized.

For the records, however, Atiku, as a former Vice President, already has the second highest honour in the land – GCON.

“If Yar’Adua and Sawaba are recognized for their role in the June 12 struggle, then the exclusion of others like Rimi, Lamido, and Atiku raises questions about the consistency and fairness of the criteria,” he added.