President Tinubu Honours 50 Pro-Democracy Heroes on June 12

President Tinubu today June 12, conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians who are ‘key figures in the pro-democracy struggle.’ President Bola Tinubu on Friday conferred national honours on 50 prominent Nigerians who, according to him, are key figures in the nation's pro-democracy struggle. He announced the awards during his nationwide 2026 Democracy Day address, which marks the anniversary of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election. The national honours list comprises several journalists, civil rights leaders, and senior military officers involved in the fight against military dictatorship. In his address, Tinubu praised the honourees, noting that they suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement so that Nigeria could enjoy democracy today. The president stated that the formal presentation and conferment of the awards will be carried out in the coming days. See the full list of the awardees below Barrister Ayoka Lawani Tunde Fagbenle Oladele Alake Olatunji Bello Louis Odion Segun Babatope Sam Omatseye Sir Ademola Osinubi Bola Bolawole Lade Bonuola 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 SOLDIER-DEMOCRATS 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. The president said the full honours list will be released in the “next few days”.