Tinubu Confers Posthumous Honours on Kudirat Abiola, Yar’Adua, Humphrey Nwosu, Others

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday conferred national honours on notable Nigerians, including Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, during his June 12 Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.

The ceremony was part of the events commemorating the 31st anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll, which was believed to have been won by Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, Kudirat’s late husband.

President Tinubu awarded the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) posthumously to Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, and a key figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), under whose tenure the June 12 election was conducted, received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Late Kudirat Abiola, known for her fierce activism and opposition to military rule, was also posthumously honoured for her role in the pro-democracy movement.

In addition to the posthumous awards, President Tinubu also honoured several living Nigerian icons, including:

Femi Falana (SAN) – Human rights lawyer and activist

Prof. Wole Soyinka – Nobel Laureate in Literature

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah – Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and social justice advocate

Also recognized were the Ogoni Nine, led by slain environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, for their contribution to environmental justice and civil rights in the Niger Delta.

Tinubu emphasized that the awards were meant to acknowledge “sacrifice, integrity, and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s democratic journey.”