Democracy Day: President Tinubu honours Ogoni nine, Soyinka, Kudirat, Amuka, others with national awards

By Anthony Maliki, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has granted posthumous presidential pardon and national awards to environment and leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni persons killed by the General Sani Abacha administration.

Saro Wiwa and the eight others were killed by hanging on November 10, 1995 for agitating for better environment due oil exploration leading to Ogoni land degradation.

President Tinubu, in an address at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday in celebration of June 12, Democracy Day, said he was exercising his 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.

While granting Saro Wiwa the national honour Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), others were honoured with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

They are Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.
The President also conferred a national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) of Nobel Laurette, Prof. Wole Soyinka and posthumous national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Kudirat Abiola, the heroine of the June 12 struggle.

He also conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, a legendary journalist whom President Tinubu said remains true to his lifetime calling.

Others conferred with honours of OON include Prof. Olatunji Dare, the journalist and journalism teacher, Kunle Ajibade, Nosa Igiebor, Dapo Olorunyomi, Bayo Onanuga, Ayo Obe, Dare Babarinsa, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Barrister Femi Falana, SAN, Prof. Shafideen Amuwo, Barrister Luke Aghanenu, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Hon. Labaran Maku, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Mr Nick Dazang, Hon Abdul Oroh, Odia Ofeimun, Seye Kehinde, Barrister Felix Morka, Barrister Ledum Mitee, Hon. Olawale Osun, Dr. Amos Akingba, Prof. Segun Gbadegesin, Dr. Kayode Shonoiki, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and Prof. Bayo Williams.

Other are Mobolaji Akinyemi, CFR, Sen. Abu Ibrahim, CFR, and Sen. Ameh Ebute CFR while General Alani Akinrinade was conferred with GCON.
  
According to the president, as Nigeria marked 26 years 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 the country has a regime of democracy.

He paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari for reaching back into history to rectify a national misdeed by making June 12 Democracy Day and officially acknowledging Chief Moshood Abiola and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe, as the victors and duly elected President and Vice President after the June 12, 1993 elections.

President Tinubu noted that even under the military, the National Assembly tried to protect our democracy.

He stressed that after General Abacha took over power on November 17, 1993 and dissolved the National Assembly led by Senator Ameh Ebute, the Senate President in the 3rd Republic, defied the General and his goons to reconvene in the Old Parliament Building in Lagos.
 
President Tinubu pointed out that achievements are not the work of one man but a collective effort to make possible the Nigerian Dream.