National Honours: ‘Fasoranti, Madunagu Not Dead’, Presidency Apologises For Mix-up

The Presidency, on Thursday, issued a formal apology over an error in the Democracy Day National Honours list, clarifying that elder statesman, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and renowned activist-scholar Dr. Edwin Madunagu were both alive and were wrongly included in the posthumous category of the honours list during President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency acknowledged the mistake and described it as an unfortunate oversight.

“During his Democracy Day address at the joint session of the National Assembly earlier today, President Bola Tinubu announced a list of pro-democracy activists and national figures to be honoured for their significant contributions to the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria,” the statement read.

“Under the Posthumous Award category, the names of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the Afenifere leader, and Dr. Edwin Madunagu were incorrectly included. Both distinguished individuals are very much alive and, therefore, should not have appeared in the posthumous category.”

The Presidency expressed deep regret over the error, pledging to correct the listing across all official platforms. “We sincerely regret this oversight. We shall make the necessary corrections across all State House digital platforms. We appreciate your understanding,” Onanuga added.

Pa Fasoranti, 98, is the national leader of the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere and a respected voice in Nigeria’s democratic journey, while Dr. Edwin Madunagu, a Marxist intellectual and human rights advocate, is well known for his role in the pro-democracy movement and his writings on social justice and governance.

Both men were named among the over 80 individuals honoured by President Tinubu during his Democracy Day speech for their roles in defending and promoting democracy, freedom of expression, and civil rights in Nigeria.

The President had earlier conferred posthumous national honours on several prominent figures, including Chief Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other members of the Ogoni Nine, in a solemn recognition of the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s pro-democracy icons.