BREAKING: President Tinubu Confers National Honour on NDC Executive

President Bola Tinubu has conferred a national honour on Barrister Osa Director, the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), as part of the 2026 Democracy Day celebrations.

The recognition comes despite the President belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a nationwide broadcast marking 27 years of unbroken civilian rule, President Tinubu announced national awards for 51 Nigerians who fought against military dictatorship during the historic June 12 struggle.

Director, a lawyer, investigative journalist, and pro-democracy activist, rose to prominence in the 1990s as a senior journalist for TELL Magazine.

He was targeted and incarcerated by the Sani Abacha military regime for his critical reporting and opposition to military rule. He later managed Insider Weekly magazine as Editor-in-Chief and served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the African Bar Association.

The President honored Director alongside other pro-democracy activists, media veterans, and retired military officers who opposed military junta regimes.

The honours list includes APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe, National Democratic Coalition chieftains Chief Ayo Opadokun and Chief Ralph Obioha, and retired military officers such as Colonel Sambo Dasuki and the Etsu Nupe, Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar.

During his address, President Tinubu paid tribute to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, noting that those recognized suffered persecution, exile, and incarceration to secure the democracy Nigeria enjoys today.

According to Tinubu, the official honors list details will be released in the coming days.

Those conferred awards are as follows:

Journalists/Media:
1. Barrister Ayoka Lawani 
2. Tunde Fagbenle 
3. Oladele Alake 
4. Olatunji Bello 
5. Louis Odion 
6. Segun Babatope 
7. Sam Omatseye 
8. Sir Ademola Osinubi 
9. Bola Bolawole 
10. Lade Bonuola 
11. Femi Kusa 
12. Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous) 
13. George Mbah 
14. Dr Niran Malaolu 
15. Gbemiga Ogunleye 
16. Babajide Kolade-Otitoju 
17. Ike Okonta 

Pro-democracy Activists/Politicians:
1. Debo Adeniran 
2. Chief Ayo Opadokun 
3. Chief Ralph Obiora 
4. Ose Osayande 
5. Barrister Osa Director 
6. Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine 
7. Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous) 
8. Dr Osagie Obayuwana 
9. Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin 
10. Barrister Titus Mann 
11. Joe Igbokwe 
12. Richard Akinnola 
13. Femi Aborisade 
14. Jenkins Alumona 
15. Muyiwa Adekeye

Military Officers:
1. Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd) 
2. Major General MA Garba 
3. Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa 
4. Col Umar Farouk Ahmed 
5. Col Sambo Dasuki 
6. Col Lawan Gwadabe 
7. Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong 
8. Col Musa Shehu 
9. Major General Chris Eze 
10. Major General Harris Dzarma 
11. Col Isa Jibrin 
12. Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin 
13. Col Olusegun Oloruntoba – Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom 
14. Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus 
15. Col J Okai 
16. Col Emmanuel Ndubueze 
17. Lt Col Yakubu Muazu 
18. Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar – Current Etsu Nupe, CFR