Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, June 12, 2025, listed two living citizens as posthumous recipients while conferring national honours on notable Nigerians.
The presidency admitted after the Democracy Day Speech had been read.
While making his Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly, the president said that Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Dr Edwin Madunagu, pro-democracy activists and national figures, were awarded national honours in the posthumous category.
Fasoranti, the leader of the Afenifere was awarded with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while Madunagu, a renowed professor of Botany, was awarded with the commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award.
However, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, later claimed the categorisations were an 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,” Onanuga said.
“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. We sincerely regret this oversight. We shall make the necessary corrections across all State House digital platforms.”
This is not the first time the presidency has goofed publicly and apologised or tried to cover up its errors.
On May 17, FIJ reported how the presidency claimed that Tinubu met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State to the Vatican, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
After much backlash, the president was forced to delete the post
