President Bola Tinubu on Thursday attracted praises and knocks for the list of honourees he announced as democracy heroes.
While some Nigerians lauded the President for his tribute to the heroes of the June 12, 1993 struggle, others lamented that key names were conspicuously omitted from the list.
The late Moshood Abiola was named winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, regarded as the freest and fairest in the country, which was annulled by the military under General Ibrahim Babangida.
Following the annulment, several prominent Nigerians, who spoke vociferously against the military decision, were killed, incarcerated under frivolous charges, while others went on exile for fear of being hounded.
The President, in the exercise of his powers on Thursday, bestowed national honours on activists, journalists, scholars and fallen pro-democracy icons.
He also granted a presidential pardon and conferred honours on the Ogoni Nine, led by Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed on November 10, 1995 by the military junta.
The Ogoni-Nine, including Saro-Wiwa, were executed following their protest against Shell’s oil activities in the region.
The list was announced during Tinubu’s Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly, while celebrating those who opposed military rule.
Living honourees include Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and Gen Alani Akinrinade (retd.), each elevated to Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Civil-rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), Bishop Matthew Kukah, Dare Babarinsa, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Senator Shehu Sani, and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, received Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Others also bagged Commander of the Federal Republic of Niger, Officer of the Order of Niger.
However, Shehu Sani, who also got national honour on Thursday, on his X handle, listed some prominent names in the North who also participated in the June 12 struggle and should have been honoured.
According to him, the list includes Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Col Dangiwa Umar, Dr Bala Usman, Salihu Lukman, Ahmed Joda and John Danfulani.
Others include Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, James Bawa Magaji, Bukar Abba, Ibrahim, Attahiru Jega, Usman Bugaje, Suleiman Ahmed, Nasir Abbas, Nasiru Kura, Dan Suleiman, and Awesu Wana Kuta.
Others are Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, Col Yohanna Madaki, Abdulkarim Dayyabu, Lawan Danbazau, Awwal Rafsanjani, Abubakar Rimi, and Sule Lamido.
However, findings by The PUNCH show that many of the names he listed had at one time or the other received national honours.
