President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, a staunch advocate of democracy and a prominent voice in the June 12 struggle.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the commissioning of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in Kaduna.
Often hailed as a “Soldier of Democracy,” Colonel Umar had been conspicuously left out of the June 12 Democracy Day honours roll, sparking widespread concern given his outspoken opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Addressing the omission, President Tinubu said:
“The omission of Colonel Dangiwa Umar from the Democracy Day honours list was not intentional. It was a regrettable oversight, and I apologise. Today, I correct that by announcing the conferment of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on him.”
Colonel Umar, a former military governor of Kaduna State, gained national acclaim for his principled stand during Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement in the 1990s. His courageous dissent during the military era and firm opposition to the annulment of what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, cemented his legacy as a key figure in the country’s democratic evolution.
President Tinubu lauded Umar’s bravery and dedication to justice, affirming that his role in Nigeria’s democratic history remains indelible.
