President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly announced that he has awarded the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) to retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, in recognition of his pivotal role in defending democracy during Nigeria’s June 12 struggle.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the commissioning of a new 300-bed hospital and vocational training centre in Kaduna State.
Colonel Umar, a former military governor of the state, is known for his strong opposition to the annulment of the 1993 presidential election and his outspoken support for democratic values at a time when few dared to speak out.
Despite his historic contributions, Colonel Umar had been left out of the June 12 honourees list announced earlier on Democracy Day, a move that sparked public concern.
Acknowledging the oversight, President Tinubu openly apologized during his speech, describing Umar as a man who courageously stood for justice and democratic principles when Nigeria needed it most.
“Today, let me use this opportunity to correct an omission,” the President said. “Some of those people that I missed during the June 12 broadcast in the National Assembly is Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar. Today, let me correct that by honouring him with national recognition…CFR.”
