President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday conferred national honours on 66 Nigerians as part of activities to mark the 2025 Democracy Day celebration. The honours were announced during his State of the Nation address at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.
The awards recognise individuals who played key roles in Nigeria’s democratic journey, including activists, journalists, public servants, and political leaders. Tinubu said the awards were a way of showing the country’s gratitude to those who sacrificed for freedom, justice, and democracy.
Among those honoured was the late Kudirat Abiola, who was posthumously awarded the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) for her role in the fight against military dictatorship. She was one of the strongest voices during the pro-democracy struggle following the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election won by her husband, Chief MKO Abiola.
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the second highest national honour, for his long-standing advocacy for human rights and justice.
Other posthumous honourees include Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Pa Alfred Rewane, Bagauda Kaltho, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, and Chief Bola Ige.
A significant part of the president’s announcement was the granting of a posthumous pardon to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and other members of the Ogoni Nine, who were executed in 1995 for protesting environmental pollution caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta. Tinubu said he was using his constitutional powers of mercy to honour their memory and sacrifices.
“I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State,” the president said.
The full list includes human rights lawyers like Femi Falana, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, veteran journalists such as Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, Dapo Olorunyomi, Kunle Ajibade, and Bayo Onanuga, as well as political leaders like Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, and Mobolaji Akinyemi.
The honours were given across various categories such as GCFR, GCON, CFR, CON, and OON. Tinubu emphasised that these individuals, both living and deceased, contributed to building a more democratic, just, and united Nigeria.
Democracy Day, now marked every June 12, was declared by former President Muhammadu Buhari to honour the memory of the June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll. The election was annulled by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida, sparking nationwide protests and a long democratic struggle that ended with the return to civilian rule in 1999.
Tinubu concluded by calling on Nigerians to reflect on the sacrifices made by these heroes and to remain committed to strengthening democratic values and national unity.
