President Bola Tinubu and Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar
By DAVID IORJA, Abuja-
President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, a prominent advocate of democracy and vocal supporter of the June 12 election struggle.
The conferment was made during President Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna State, where he acknowledged an oversight in his June 12 Democracy Day address, which omitted Dangiwa’s name.
Tinubu explained that the omission was unintentional and apologized for the mistake.
“Some individuals were left out in my June 12 address. Colonel Dangiwa was one of them. Let me now honour him with the CFR award,” Tinubu said.
He emphasized that the oversight was regrettable and that he was pleased to correct it by conferring the national honour on Dangiwa.
Colonel Dangiwa is a respected figure in Nigerian politics, known for his courageous stance against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola. He was a key figure in the struggle for democracy and played a significant role in the fight against military rule in Nigeria.
The CFR award is a recognition of Dangiwa’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey. As a Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, Dangiwa joins a distinguished group of Nigerians who have made significant contributions to the country’s development and growth.
The conferment of the CFR award on Colonel Dangiwa is seen as a long-overdue recognition of his efforts and a reaffirmation of his place in Nigeria’s democratic history. It is also a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to honouring individuals who have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s development.
During his visit to Kaduna State, President Tinubu also commended Governor Uba Sani for his efforts in restoring peace and harmony in the state. He praised the governor for prioritizing peace and initiating a healing process among the various ethnic groups in the state.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
