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Reactions have continued to follow the Federal Government's decision to recognize prominent Nigerians who contributed to the series of protests leading to the country's return to democracy in 1999.
President Bola Tinubu honored over 80 Nigerians, both living and deceased, during his Democracy Day speech, with many recipients being activists who fought for the realization of the June 12, 1993 presidential election that was believed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
Among those honored were Abiola's wife, the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, and human rights advocates like Chief Femi Falana.
Other notable Nigerians recognized included the late Major-General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-General Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, who received the prestigious awards of GCFR and GCON respectively.
However, some notable omissions were apparent, such as Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, a former governor of the old Ondo State during the Second Republic and leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which campaigned for a return to democratic governance.
Others missing from the list included Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Chief Anthony Enahoro, the late Major General Adeyinka Adebayo, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Professor Anya O. Anya, Colonel Yohanna Madaki, and Reverend Father Moses Adasu. Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, one of the prominent figures who agitated for democracy, commented via a phone call on Friday that her omission from the honors suggests that President Tinubu still harbors some grievances against her.
Bucknor-Akerele served as the deputy to President Tinubu when they were both elected governor and deputy governor of Lagos State under the now-defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) party.
After they had a fallout, she resigned from her post when it became apparent that the state House of Assembly was moving towards impeachment at the Governor's prompting.
In her reaction, she expressed, “I am not surprised to be left off the list. It is not surprising, but I think it shows that President Tinubu may still hold some grievances against me based on our past in government.”
Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, the child of the late Chief Ajasin, attributed the omission to a ‘bureaucratic error,’ asserting that the president and state officials would not have intentionally excluded his father's name.
In a statement to the press in Lagos on Friday, Ajasin said, “While I dislike getting personal, I must admit that my family and I were quite surprised that my late father's name was not among those honored by President Tinubu during the June 12 celebrations.
I have received numerous calls from friends and well-wishers questioning why Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin's name was omitted.
Our family generally acts out of altruism, and we do not seek recognition, even if our contributions go unrecognized.
However, it is unconscionable that the leader of NADECO, recognized for fighting against the military and facilitating democracy, was not mentioned at all during the June 12 commemoration.
I am uncertain whether this notable omission was intentional, but it's essential to acknowledge that Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, CFR, was not only the leader of NADECO but also led Afenifere, both of which were pivotal in the battle against military rule.
Afenifere played a crucial role in guiding activists and civil society organizations including the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Movement for National Reformation (MNR), National Conscience Party (NCP), and others,” he noted.
In referencing a work by former Ogun State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Ajasin highlighted that his late father was recognized as a founding member of NADECO. “During Chief Ajasin's leadership of NADECO, Chief Anthony Enahoro was the Deputy Leader, and Mr. Ayo Opadokun served as the General Secretary.
None of these names were present on the published list! So, what went wrong? Why are bureaucrats making these mistakes? At the risk of seeming boastful, our family, like others in the Owo community, faced multiple risks from the Abacha regime's violent enforcers,” he explained.
Omoyele Sowore, convenor of the #RevolutionNow movement and former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), stated across his social media platforms that he would pursue legal action for defamation if his name were to be “mistakenly” included on any national honors list from President Bola Tinubu.
In a brief statement released on Friday, Sowore said, “If I am mistakenly included on Tinubu's 'National Award' list, I would not only reject and renounce the award but also take definitive legal action for defamation.”
