Kudirat, Ige, Saro-wiwa, Rewane, 134 Others Receive National Honours

President Bola Tinubu has honoured 135 individuals for their roles in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle, particularly following the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Posthumous national honours were awarded to figures such as Kudirat Abiola, Chief Bola Ige, Pa Alfred Rewane, and members of the Ogoni Nine, including Ken Saro-Wiwa. Living recipients include Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd.), who received the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. Others awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger include Femi Falana (SAN), Bishop Matthew Kukah, Senator Shehu Sani, and Governor Uba Sani.

The recognition sparked criticism over the omission of key contributors to the struggle, such as Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Col. Dangiwa Umar, Dr. Bala Usman, and media activists like Joe Okei-Odumakin, Yinka Odumakin, and Dele Momodu. Former Governor Kayode Fayemi also lamented the lack of acknowledgement for those behind the Radio Kudirat project, which he managed during the military era.

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) commended Tinubu for granting presidential pardon to the Ogoni Nine but stressed that what the people truly seek is full exoneration. MOSOP leader Fegalo Nsuke emphasized that the executed activists committed no crime and called for their names to be cleared legally and morally.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide also praised the recognition of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who conducted the 1993 election. The group urged that the national electoral headquarters be named after him in further tribute.

Fayemi, while acknowledging Tinubu’s gestures, stressed that Nigeria is yet to attain true democracy. He called for the establishment of a national museum or monument in Abuja to preserve the legacy of the democratic struggle. He also reiterated the need to distinguish between merely holding elections and achieving genuine democratic governance.