Tinubu Honours Heroes Of Democracy

As part of this year’s Democracy Day celebrations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has awarded National honours to some prominent Nigerians, who he said played a major role in Nigeria’s return to democratic government.

In his nationwide speech to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, the president described the honourees as  “architects’ of modern democratic Nigeria, saying their contributions contributed immensely to the nation’s return to civilian rule after a long stretch of military rules.

On May 29, 1999, General Abdusalami Abubakar, then Military Head of State handed over power to President Olusegun Obasanjo, bringing to end 15 uninterrupted years of military rule in the country which started after General Buhari took over the government of President Shehu Shagari, in a military coup.

Since then Nigerians, from across the country had clamoured for the return to democratic rule, which led to some of them losing their lives in the course of the struggle.

According to President Tinubu, Nigerians who fought for democracy included civilians and military officers, who he said paid a huge price such as  persecution, incarceration and prison confinement for democracy to return to the country.

In the list read out by the president, 50 individuals were selected, including late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who the president said has been honored with the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna after him.

The institution will now been known as General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, the president said.

“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership. In recognition of his contributions, the Federal “Government has approved the revitalization and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

“I am also pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today,’ Tinubu said.

The Honourees

Apart from General Yar’Adua, the list of the honourees also include;

Barrister Ayoka Lawani

Tunde Fagbenle

Oladele Alake

Olatunji Bello

Louis Odion

Segun Babatope

Sam Omatseye

Sir Ademola Osinubi

Bola Bolawole

Lade Bonuola

Femi Kusa

Debo Adeniran

Chief Ayo Opadokun

Chief Ralph Obiora

Ose Osayande

Barrister Osa Director

Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine

Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous)

Dr Osagie Obayuwana

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin

Barrister 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

Ike Okonta

We also recognise the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle:

Major General MA Garba

Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa

Col Umar Farouk Ahmed;

Col Sambo Dasuki;

Col Lawan Gwadabe;

Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong

Col Musa Shehu;

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

Col J Okai;

Col Emmanuel Ndubueze;

Lt Col Yakubu Muazu

Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.