President Bola Tinubu on Friday announced plans to confer national awards on 33 pro-democracy activists and 17 “soldier-democrats”.

Mr Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address, said the activists were being honoured for suffering persecution, enduring humiliation, exile, imprisonment and solitary confinement.

“I am also pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today,” Mr Tinubu stated.

Recipients of the national awards are Ayoka Lawani, Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Sir Ademola Osinubi, Bola Bolawole, Lade Bonuola, Femi Kusa, Debo Adeniran, Ayo Opadokun, Ralph Obiora, Ose Osayande, Osa Director, and Sylvester Odion-Akhaine.

Others are Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous), Osagie Obayuwana, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe, Richard Akinnola, Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous), George Mbah, Niran Malaolu, Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), Femi Aborisade, Jenkins Alumona, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, and Ike Okonta.

Mr Tinubu also announced the recognition of military officers, whom he described as “soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle”, including Maj.-Gen. M.A. Garba, Brig-Gen. Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Col Umar Farouk Ahmed, Col Sambo Dasuki, Col Lawan Gwadabe, Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong, Col Musa Shehu, Maj.-Gen. Chris Eze, and Maj.-Gen. Harris Dzarma.

Other officers to be awarded are Col. Isa Jibrin and Maj.-Gen. Joseph Oshanupin; Col Olusegun Oloruntoba (Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom); Lt Col Happy Kefas Bulus; Col J Okai; Col Emmanuel Ndubueze; Lt Col Yakubu Muazu; and Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the king of the Nupe Kingdom.

The president said the honours list would be released “in the coming days”.

“Today, we celebrate democracy and the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers – not through violence,” Mr Tinubu stated.

Mr Tinubu noted that among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria was General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. 

“In recognition of his contributions, the federal government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology,” said the president.