A former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and High Commissioner to Canada, Senator Iyorwuese Hagher, has commended President Bola Tinubu for conferring a posthumous national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the late Dr. John Yima Sen.
Hagher described the recognition as a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life to truth, justice and national transformation.
In a press statement he personally signed, Hagher expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for honouring a compatriot he described as more than a friend a brother and fellow patriot.
“The recognition of Yima Sen with a national honour is not just a celebration of a life well lived, but also a validation of the many battles he fought in the service of Nigeria,” Hagher stated.
He recounted Yima Sen’s fearless role in Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting his leadership as secretary general of the Campaign for Democracy and as a key figure in the Democratic Alternative.
Sen was, according to Hagher, a resolute voice for the marginalised, especially minority ethnic nationalities in the Middle Belt and a relentless advocate for peace, justice and equitable governance.
“Yima was a man of phenomenal energy and rare courage. He built bridges across divides and was a fierce critic of oppression. His entire life was shaped by a vision of an inclusive and just Nigeria.
“In life, he rejected conformity and materialism. In death, his ideas continue to shine as guiding lights. Your ideas will not die. They live and will provide more light for millions in the world who are reeling under different interlocking systems of oppression. “This national honour rekindles the belief that Nigeria still values the labours of its true heroes.”
I therefore thank President Tinubu for this gracious act of recognition which comforts all of us who carry on the burden of rebuilding a just and equitable Nigeria,” he said.
