Tinubu Honours Kudirat Abiola, Soyinka, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Others with National Awards

As part of activities marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday conferred national honours on several prominent Nigerians, including late democracy activists and literary icons, during his State of the Nation address delivered at the National Assembly.

Leading the list of awardees is the late Kudirat Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, who was posthumously awarded the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, received one of the country’s highest honours—the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

Others honoured include the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), and the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and other members of the Ogoni Nine, each of whom were awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) posthumously.

President Tinubu also used the occasion to announce a presidential pardon for the posthumous honourees and others whose names, he said, would be released in due course.

“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,” Tinubu stated.

Other distinguished individuals conferred with honours include:

• Prof. Humphrey Nwosu – CON

• Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu – CON

• Alhaji Balarabe Musa – CFR

• Chief Bola Ige – CFR

• Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti – CON

• Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah – CON

• Femi Falana, SAN – CON

• Prof. Julius Ihonvbere – CON

• Mobolaji Akinyemi – CFR

• Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu – CON

The honours spanned all sectors, from media and law to civil rights and governance, recognising individuals for their roles in the promotion of democracy, freedom of expression, and justice in Nigeria.

This move is widely seen as a symbolic reconciliation with the nation’s turbulent political past, especially the dark era of military dictatorship and the struggle for democratic rule.

The full list of honourees includes over 60 individuals, with both living and posthumous recipients celebrated for their sacrifices and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.