Presidency apologises for listing Fasoranti, Madunagu on ‘posthumous’ honours list

The presidency has apologised for wrongly including Reuben Fasoranti and Edwin Madunagu among the posthumous awardees of national honours in President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech at the national assembly.

Both Fasoronti, the leader of Afenifere, and Madunagu, an author and mathematician, are alive.

Earlier on Thursday, President Tinubu conferred national honours on 66 individuals who played active roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.

Posthumous awards were conferred on some Nigerians, including Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Humphrey Nwosu, and Kudirat Abiola.

However, the listing of Fasoranti and Madunagu in the posthumous category, has elicited reactions from Nigerians on social media.

While reacting to the error, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the mix-up was 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 in a statement.

“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.”