NIGERIA: Tinubu Honours Kudirat Abiola, Soyinka, Saro-Wiwa, others on Democracy Day

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, conferred national honours on a number of notable Nigerians, including the late Kudirat Abiola, Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, as part of activities marking this year’s Democracy Day.

During his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly, the President announced that Kudirat Abiola was honoured posthumously with the title of Commander of the Federal Republic, while Professor Wole Soyinka was conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

The late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua was posthumously awarded the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, the nation’s highest national honour. Also posthumously recognised were Ken Saro-Wiwa and other members of the Ogoni Nine, who were granted national honours and presidential pardon.

Other awardees include Professor Humphrey Nwosu, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Pa Alfred Rewane, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chief Bola Ige, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Professor Olatunji Dare, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Senator Shehu Sani, Barrister Femi Falana, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, and several others who have played key roles in the nation’s democratic and civic development.

President Tinubu further stated that he would exercise his constitutional prerogative of mercy to grant full pardon to the honourees, with more names expected to be announced in collaboration with the National Council of State.

The awards, which spanned various categories including the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), were given in recognition of the recipients’ sacrifices and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy, civil rights, and national development.