PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey, particularly during the June 12 movement.
The honour was officially announced yesterday during the commissioning of a 300-bed hospital and vocational training centre in Kaduna State.
Colonel Umar, a former military governor of Kaduna State, is widely revered as a “soldier of democracy” for his outspoken opposition to the annulment of the 1993 presidential election and his unwavering commitment to democratic ideals.
Acknowledging the previous omission of Umar’s name from the June 12 honours list, President Tinubu offered a public apology, stating, “Today, I want to correct an oversight. Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar was missed in my Democracy Day address at the National Assembly. I now honour him with the CFR for standing firm on the side of justice when it mattered most.”
The June 12 Democracy Day speech had seen national honours conferred on notable Nigerians such as Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Kukah (CON), human rights lawyer Femi Falana (CON), and the late Kudirat Abiola, who received a posthumous CFR.
Other posthumous recipients included journalist Sam Amuka-Pemu, members of the Ogoni Nine led by Ken Saro-Wiwa, and former National Electoral Commission Chairman Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
The Presidency has since clarified that only names read by the President during his official speech constitute the valid list of honourees, dismissing any circulating unauthorised lists as misinformation.
Colonel Umar’s recognition comes as part of a broader national effort to honour the sacrifices and contributions of individuals who played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.