Abuja, Nigeria – June 12, 2025. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don gather people wey fight for democracy for one big event wey he call ‘Heroes of Nigerian Democracy’. But as e be, some big names wey contribute for the struggle no show for the list. Na wetin one padi wey get cloth for memory of our history dey talk.
So, as we dey praise Tinubu for the effort, e get some people wey susu dey miss for the roll call. As e stand, last year presidential speech na jump some important champions of democracy wey dey give their all. For that year, Tinubu mention 32 names, beginning from the late Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Ayo Opadokun. But we go still ask, wetin happen to all the other heroes dem?
Some names wey no dey there but dey important join include Walter Carrington, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, and Alhaji Bukar Zarma. I feel say if dem put more careful hand for am, e go make sense. Na wetin we dey talk when we discuss how to fit add these names next time.
Plenty people don talk am before, say dem notice say the list no start or end with just the shiny names. E get important figures like Dr. Tunji Abayomi and Femi Aborishade wey also deserve a shout-out. These people put their life and sweat on top table to ensure say democracy fit grow for Naija. You fit imagine how e go be if dem no get mention? Na wah!
Even the late Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, wey na heroine of democracy, fall for observatory zer0 on that list. When Tinubu knack us that one, e be like say we dey forget some part of the story wey deep pass the surface.
We fit not forget the role wey people like Frederick Fasehun and Joe Igbokwe play. Fasehun, wey be head of the Oodua People’s Congress, get plenty respect for him contribution to democracy, but e no dey featured for the hero list. Wetin dem dey sure? Looks like this ‘heroes’ gist fit dey selective sometimes, abi wetin una think?
Still, we no fit look this matter from another angle jare. Tinubu talk say no be one group or section fit claim all the glory because the fight na for everybody wey wan make Naija better. So, wetin be the criteria wey dey guide dem for name selection? E be like say e dey pass some people by.
This list na good start, but we dey yarn for ground say next time make dem try include more names. Make dem recognize those wey carry matter for head and pass dem own shot for the democracy table. Heroes dey plenty, and dem all deserve the respect wey come with the title.
So as we dey celebrate, make we remember the ones wey don pave way even if dem no dey shine under spotlight. Na who sabi dey make the heroes wey dey from under the surface shine again? Nobody! But, na here, we go dey shout for dem givers till dem hear us well well.
