Tinubu Confers Posthumous Honours On Kudirat Abiola, Humphrey Nwosu, Yar’ Adua, Others
… Grants Presidential Pardon To Ken Saro Wiwa, Eight Others
…. Presidency Apologizes For Errors In Nat’l Honours List
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday conferred national honours on Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the late Moshood Abiola, a former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), Humphrey Nwosu, a former vice president, Shehu Yar’Adua, among others.
Tinubu conferred the national honours on them during his June 12 address to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.
Moshood Abiola won the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
“As we mark a twenty-sixth year of unbroken democracy, it is right to honour those who have made sacrifices in the past, braving all the odds and the guns to ensure we have a regime of democracy in our country,” Tinubu said.
“In this light, I announce the conferment of the posthumous national honour of CFR on Kudirat Abiola, the heroine of the June 12 struggle.”
President Tinubu confered the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award on Nwosu and the the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
“I also confer posthumous national honours on Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (CON), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON), Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR), Pa. Alfred Rewani (CFR), Bagauda Kaltho (OON), Chima Ubani (OON), Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON), Alao Aka Bashorun (CON), Chief Frank Kokori (CON), Emma Ezeazu (OON), Bamidele Aturu (OON), Fredrick Fasehun (CON), Professor Festus Iyayi (CON), Dr John Yima Sen (OON), Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON), Dr. Alex Ibru (CON), Chief Bola Ige (CFR), (CFR), Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON), Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON) and Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON),” he said at the event
Apart from these individuals, Tinubu honoured some distinguished Nigerians, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Kukah, with national awards.
He said, “I also confer national honours on Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), the journalist and journalism teacher; Kunle Ajibade (OON); Nosa Igiebor (OON), Dapo Olorunyomi (OON), Bayo Onanuga (CON), Ayo Obe (OON), Dare Babarinsa (CON), Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), Senator Shehu Sani (CON), Governor Uba Sani (CON), Barrister Femi Falana, SAN (CON), Prof. Shafideen Amuwo (CON), Barrister Luke Aghanenu (OON), Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi (CON), Hon. Labaran Maku (OON), Dr. Tunji Alausa (CON), Mr Nick Dazang (OON), Hon Abdul Oroh (OON), Odia Ofeimun (CON), Seye Kehinde (OON), Barrister Felix Morka (CON) Barrister Ledum Mitee (CON), Hon. Olawale Osun (CON), Dr. Amos Akingba (CON), Prof. Segun Gbadegesin (CON), Mobolaji Akinyemi (CFR), Dr. Kayode Shonoiki (CON), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (CON), Prof. Bayo Williams (CON), Sen. Abu Ibrahim (CFR), and Sen. Ame Ebute (CFR).”
The Ogoni Nine, led by the late environmental activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, also got national honours from President Tinubu.
“Furthermore, I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine and his fellow travellers, Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON),” Tinubu said in his address.
“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.”
He also granted a national honour of “CON on Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, a legendary journalist and publisher who remains true to his lifetime calling as he marks his 90th birthday tomorrow, June 13”.
Tinubu’s June 12 Conferral Of Posthumous National Honours
See the full list of those given posthumous national awards by Tinubu
1. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR)
2. Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (CON)
3. Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON)
4. Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR)
5. Pa. Alfred Rewani (CFR)
6. Bagauda Kaltho (OON)
7. Chima Ubani (OON)
8. Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON)
9. Alao Aka Bashorun (CON)
10. Chief Frank Kokori (CON)
11. Emma Ezeazu (OON)
12. Bamidele Aturu (OON)
13. Fredrick Fasehun (CON)
14. Professor Festus Iyayi (CON)
15. Dr John Yima Sen (OON)
16. Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON)
17. Dr. Alex Ibru (CON)
18. Chief Bola Ige (CFR)
19. Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON)
20. Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON)
21. Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON)
Ogoni Nine: Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardon To Ken Saro Wiwa, Eight Others
President Bola Tinubu has granted a full presidential posthumous pardon to the late environmental rights activist, Ken Saro Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni men, also known as Ogoni Nine.
Tinubu announced the pardon to the nine Ogonis, who he described as national heroes, while exercising his powers under the Prerogative of Mercy during an address to a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday.
He said others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State would also receive a presidential pardon.
He also conferred posthumous national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger on Saro Wiwa, and Officer of the Order of the Niger on his eight kinsmen.
Tinubu addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12, 2025.
The eight others are Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
Tinubu said, “Furthermore, I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine, and his fellow travellers, Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON).
“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.”
Saro Wiwa and his colleagues had been accused of murder by the administration of a former Head of State, the late Sani Abacha, and executed in 1995.
Their execution drew the ire of civil society organisations and the international community.
Presidency Apologizes For Errors In Nat’l Honours List
The Presidency has tendered an apology for erroneously including two living individuals—Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Dr. Edwin Madunagu—on the list of recipients of posthumous national honours announced by President Bola Tinubu during his Democracy Day address on Thursday.
In a statement issued as a corrigendum, Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga clarified the error, attributing it to an oversight during the preparation of the honours list.
“During his Democracy Day address at the joint session of the National Assembly earlier today, President Bola Tinubu announced a list of pro-democracy activists and national figures to be honoured for their significant contributions to the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria,” the statement read.
“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.”
Onanuga expressed the government’s regret over the mix-up and assured the public that the necessary corrections would be made across all official State House digital platforms.
“We sincerely regret this oversight. We shall make the necessary corrections across all State House digital platforms. We appreciate your understanding,” the statement read
