By Mfonobong Ekott
June 12, 2025
The Presidency on Thursday issued a formal correction to an error in the honours list announced during President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address on June 12, 2025.
During his speech before a joint session of the National Assembly, President Tinubu named a number of pro-democracy icons and national figures for recognition due to their outstanding contributions to the restoration and deepening of democratic governance in Nigeria.
However, the list included a notable error in the Posthumous Award category, where the names of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, elder statesman and leader of Afenifere, and Dr. Edwin Madunagu, respected journalist and activist, were wrongly placed.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency clarified that both individuals are alive and should not have been included among recipients of posthumous honours.
“The Presidency regrets this oversight and has taken immediate steps to correct the error across all official records and digital platforms,” Onanuga said.
“We extend our sincere apologies to Pa Fasoranti, Dr. Madunagu, their families, and all concerned Nigerians for this unintended misclassification.”
Meanwhile, the inadvertent error had attracted criticisms, with many stressing the importance of diligence in compiling national honours, especially on a day as symbolic as Democracy Day, which commemorates the country’s return to civilian rule.
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