Former Chairman, Special Committee on recovery of national assets, Okoi Obono-Obla has faulted the award of national honours to some pro-democracy and human rights activists for their roles in the democracy struggle in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday conferred national honours on outstanding personalities in the June 12 pro-democracy struggles.

In a statement issued in Calabar, Obono-Obla drew attention to an important oversight where the president reportedly awarded a ‘posthumous award’ to Dr Edwin Madunagu who is still alive, in error!

He said Madunagu resided in Calabar but had recently lost his dear wife, Prof Bene Madunagwu, on 26 November 2024.

Oboo-Obla who commended the administration for recognizing those activists as a significant step in the right direction, expressed concern that attention was given to Lagos –Ibadan based activists to the neglect of others across the country, especially South-South Geopolitical Zone, who actively contributed to the struggle.

“As Chairman of the Universal Defenders of Democracy in Cross River State, I stood firmly in the fight for democracy alongside numerous human rights organizations.

“Unfortunately, due to media coverage predominantly focused on Lagos and Ibadan, the contributions from the South-South zone have not been adequately recognized in the national discourse.

“I urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to broaden the scope of recognition and ensure that all individuals who played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle, regardless of their region are honored in the next Democracy Day celebration in 2026.”

He noted that the contributions of those recognised this year to Nigeria’s democracy are invaluable.

“Those individuals fought tirelessly and made tremendous sacrifices to ensure the return of democratic governance in 1999, particularly those who struggled for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 election won by Chief Moshood Abiola but unjustly annulled by the military.”