Coalition of 130 civil society groups honours Tinubu, Soyinka, Opadokun, others for conttributions to democracy

A coalition of civil society groups on Thursday honoured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his contributions to democracy in Nigeria.

The award was part of the efforts to recognise the role of Tinubu and other leading figures in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC), a coalition of 135 civil society and community based groups, honoured Prof. Wole Soyinka;, former General Secretary, National Democratic Coalition,(NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun and NADECO Chieftain Hon Wale Osun.
The group also gave awards to PINL, which it described as the pillar of job creation, peace and conflict prevention in the Niger Delta for leading the campaign against violence and pipeline vandalisation in Nigeria.

The event held at the Airport Hotel in Lagos with over 800 people from across Nigeria in attendance.

Prof Wole Soyinka sent a representative while Chief Opadokun, Prince Onuwaje, the Director General Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, Mr Seye Oyeleye and Mr Babatunde Ogala and others were present at the event.

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Tunde Rahman who received the award on behalf of the president, praised the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) for recognising the role Tinubu played in the June 12 struggle.

He said the President was aware of the historic responsibility placed in his shoulders to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

The coalition said each of the awardees made inestimable sacrifices for democracy and liberty in Nigeria.

NHRC officials, Mallam Kudu Mohammed, Taiwo Adeleye and Noel Ebiri said the award was part of activities marking 30 years since the annulment of the June 12 1993 residential election.

The group said it was honouring the heroes and non-state actors that are helping democracy to survive as as to serve as inspiration to Nigerians and also to remind the people that Nigeria must never return to military rule.
‘There would have been no democracy without June 12. Nigerians made sacrifices. People laid down their lives for peace and prosperity of Nigeria. Many people were killed. Many were maimed. It is important to continue to reward these heroes to let them know Nigeria value their past and present contributions’, the group said.
It noted that Nigerians are passing through difficult moments characterised by high cost of living, corruption, ineptitude, insecurity and growing number of economically displaced people.
The group said it hoped the award would stimulate the President to listen to the cries of Nigerians in order for him to address their fears and meet their aspirations.
‘The June 12 anniversary is significant. Ironically, it coincides with the one year anniversary of President Tinubu. Nigerians expect a radical change from Tinubu’s government because he is the first candidate from the human rights constituency that has ever emerged as the president of the country. Nigerians are looking up to him to bring the country back from the brink, ” the NHRC said.
The NHRC was established in 2007 as a coalition of 135 civil society, community-based and human rights organisations spread across the 36 states of the Federation.
GREPNET, member of the coalition, is a member of International Alliance on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forest, (IAITPTF) based in Thailand.