The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has described President Bola Tinubu as a nationalist par excellence for giving national honours to some deserving Nigerians.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday conferred a posthumous national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Kudirat Abiola, describing her as the heroine of the June 12 struggle.
Tinubu honoured Kudirat ,wife of winner of the celebrated election,MKO Abiola, and other heroes of democracy during his address at the Joint Session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day 2025.
Reacting on the list of beneficiaries, Mr Seye Oladejo, the Lagos State APC Spokesman, told NAN that the President had again proven himself as a true nationalist.
According to him, the national honours bestowed on late Mrs Abiola and her co-travelers in the struggle for the democracy, show Mr President as a firm believer in the labour of the nation’s heroes and heroines.
“Mr President, a nationalist par excellence is a firm believer that the labour of our heroes , past and present, should not be in vain,
“He has set a good precedent for other patriots to know that their sacrifices for the nation will always be appropriately acknowledged and rewarded.
“It’s worthy of note that it has taken the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency to accord the well earned pride of place to these worthy martyrs of our nascent democracy.”
President also conferred 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) and Bagauda Kaltho (OON).
Others are: 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), Prof. Festus Iyayi (CON), Dr John Yima Sen (OON) and Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON).
Dr Edwin Madunagu bagged the CON honour; Dr Alex Ibru (CON), Chief Bola Ige (CFR), Pa. Reuben Fasoranti (CFR), Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON), Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON) and Dr Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON).
Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), the journalist and journalism teacher; Kunle Ajibade (OON); Nosa Igiebor (OON), Dapo Olorunyomi (OON) and Mr Bayo Onanuga (CON) were also honoured by Tinubu.
Other beneficiaries are Ayo Obe (OON), Dare Babarinsa (CON), Bishop Matthew Kukah (CON), Sen. Shehu Sani (CON), Gov. Uba Sani (CON), Femi Falana (CON), Prof. Shafideen Amuwo (CON), Luke Aghanenu (OON) and Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi (CON).
Also among the beneficiaries are Mr Labaran Maku (OON), Dr Tunji Alausa (CON), Mr Nick Dazang (OON), Hon. Abdul Oroh (OON), Odia Ofeimun (CON), Seye Kehinde (OON), Felix Morka (CON), Ledum Mitee (CON), Hon. Olawale Osun (CON) and 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) were also honoured.
Additionally, the president conferred the national honour of CON on Sam Amuka Pemu, publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, who he said remained true to his lifetime calling as he marked his 90th birthday on Friday.
“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) and 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.
The president decorated the presiding officers of the National Assembly with the national honours earlier conferred upon them in 2024.
Those decorations were Sen. Godswill Akpabio, GCON; Mr Abbas Tajudeen, GCON – Speaker, Sen. Jibrin Barau, CFR – Deputy Senate President and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, CFR – Deputy Speaker.