Democracy Day: Tinubu honours June 12 heroes, announces national awards

President Bola Tinubu has announced national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, lawyers and military officers who played key roles in the struggle to restore democratic governance in Nigeria.

In his 2026 Democracy Day address, Tinubu paid tribute to the heroes of the June 12 movement, describing them as patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and even death in defence of democracy.

The President recalled the sacrifices of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as well as his wife, Kudirat Abiola, and other prominent figures including Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Frank Kokori and Chima Ubani.

He said the Federal Government had approved national honours for several individuals who participated in the pro-democracy struggle.

Among those listed were Debo Adeniran, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Femi Aborisade, Richard Akinnola, Major-General Ishola Williams (retd), Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Ike Okonta and several others.

Mr Tinubu also recognised a group of military officers whom he described as “soldier-democrats” for their roles during the June 12 struggle, including Major General M.A. Garba, Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong.

The President said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.

In a related development, Mr Tinubu announced the renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna after the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

The institution will now be known as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, in recognition of the late statesman’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to preserve the gains of democracy and work collectively towards securing economic prosperity, which he described as the next phase of the country’s democratic journey.

“Our generation must secure prosperity,” the President said. “The heroes of June 12 secured political freedom. Our challenge is to secure economic freedom.”