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 respected advocate of democracy and one of the most vocal defenders of the June 12 election struggle.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the commissioning of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in Kaduna, where President Tinubu publicly acknowledged what he described as a regrettable oversight in the initial Democracy Day honours list released on June 12.
Colonel Umar, often described as a “Soldier of Democracy” for his unwavering stand during Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement of the 1990s, was notably absent from this year’s list of honourees, an omission that sparked concern and criticism from various quarters, given his historic role in defending democratic ideals under military rule.
Read Also:
President Tinubu commissions strategic projects during official visit to Kaduna
In his remarks, President Tinubu offered a heartfelt apology and formally corrected the record.
“The omission of Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar from the Democracy Day honours list was not intentional. It was a regrettable oversight, and I sincerely 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,” the President stated.
Colonel Umar, a former military governor of Kaduna State, gained national prominence for being one of the few military officers who openly condemned the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll. His bold opposition to the military establishment earned him respect across political and civil society circles, securing his place as a moral voice in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
President Tinubu hailed Umar’s courage, integrity, and enduring commitment to justice and good governance, saying:
“Colonel Umar’s place in the story of Nigeria’s democracy is not just deserved but essential. His fearless advocacy for truth and justice helped shape the path to our current democratic dispensation.”
The conferment of the CFR on Colonel Umar is seen as a symbolic gesture aimed at reaffirming the nation’s appreciation for those who stood firm in defence of democracy during one of the country’s most turbulent periods.
