The presidency has issued an apology after mistakenly including Reuben Fasoranti and Edwin Madunagu—both still alive—among recipients of posthumous national honours announced during President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly.
The error, which appeared in the president’s official remarks, sparked swift backlash on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the vetting process behind the honours list.
Fasoranti, a prominent Yoruba leader and head of the Afenifere socio-political group, and Madunagu, a respected author and mathematician, were both wrongly listed alongside late democracy icons such as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Humphrey Nwosu, and Kudirat Abiola.
Responding to the controversy, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the incident as an “oversight” and assured the public that corrective steps are being taken.
While the presidency’s apology has been acknowledged, the incident has added a tone of embarrassment to the otherwise symbolic Democracy Day event.
