Tinubu confers national honour on Col. Abubakar Umar, apologises for omission

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), a prominent advocate for democracy and key figure in the June 12 pro-democracy movement.

The president announced the honour during his address at the commissioning ceremony of a 300-bed Specialist Hospital and the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Kaduna on Thursday.

Colonel Umar, often referred to as the “Soldier of Democracy,” was a vocal and courageous supporter of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.

Despite his instrumental role in defending democratic ideals during a turbulent period in Nigeria’s history, his name was notably absent from the list of honorees announced during the recent Democracy Day celebrations.

Acknowledging the oversight, President Tinubu publicly apologised for the omission and described Colonel Umar’s contributions to the nation as both historic and invaluable.

“It was an unintentional oversight. Colonel Umar’s unwavering stand for justice and democracy deserves the highest recognition. Today, we correct that by bestowing upon him the national honour of CFR,” Tinubu said.

The announcement drew applause from dignitaries present at the event, who praised the gesture as a timely recognition of Colonel Umar’s legacy and sacrifices.

The conferment adds a significant moment to the series of events in Kaduna, which also included major infrastructure inaugurations aimed at improving healthcare, vocational education, and public transportation in the state.