Macron says UN conference on Israel-Palestinian issue postponed after attack on Iran

A United Nations conference hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to work towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians has been postponed after Israel launched a military attack on Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.

Two sources had earlier told Reuters that the conference would be postponed after Israel's attacks because logistically it would be difficult for countries in the region to attend.

Israel launched a huge wave of airstrikes across Iran on Friday, targeting Iran's huge underground nuclear site, reportedly killing its entire top echelon of military commanders and nuclear scientists in the biggest ever direct attack between the foes.

"This postponement cannot undermine our determination to move forward with the implementation of the two-state solution," Macron told a news conference.

"Whatever the circumstances, I have stated my determination to recognise the State of Palestine."

Macron said logistically the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were simply not able to travel given the military escalation in the region.

He said the meeting would be rescheduled as quickly as possible.

France and Saudi Arabia had been set to host the gathering between June 17-20 in New York, aiming to lay out the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security.

Macron, who had been set to attend on June 18, has previously suggested France could recognise a Palestinian state in Israeli-occupied territories at the conference, a move opposed by Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration sent a diplomatic cable earlier this week to discourage governments around the world from attending the conference, according to a U.S. cable seen by Reuters.

It had also warned of possible consequences for those who took measures against Israel, raising pressure on the participants and making Macron's potential decision to recognise a Palestinian state more complicated.

Macron could still at one point go ahead with becoming the first Western heavyweight to recognise a Palestinian state, but the desire in Paris is to have a collective momentum.

Diplomats say this could lend greater weight to a movement hitherto dominated by smaller nations generally more critical of Israel.

Macron's stance has shifted amid Israel's intensified Gaza offensive and escalating violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, and there is a growing sense of urgency in Paris to act now.

Reuters

I've just watched a four-minute video clip of Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, commissioning a humongous haul of 14 road projects in one day in Aba, the major commercial hub in the state. My interest was not in the ceremonial cutting of tapes and ribbons at every turn during the exercise. More than that, I was swayed by the bonding, the connectivity of Otti with regular folks, his kinsmen and women. As Otti walked the streets of the famous Enyimba City, his people, evidently overwhelmed by the good works of their leader, wanted to touch him, to hug him, to take photographs with him. Whenever his excited constituents tried to get close to him just to touch him, they were, expectedly restrained by the protective wall around Otti. On each such occasion, Otti overruled his aides, allowing such people reach and embrace him. There was this particular point in the video clip under review, where a woman trader wanted to gift Otti a pack of bottled water, most probably in her appreciation of Otti's endeavours.

The security perimeter around Otti tried to kick the pack aside and block her from accessing the Governor. He read the situation, slowed down and even asked that the allowed near him and indeed be photographed with him. He equally directed that her gift of water be thankfully received and taken to his car. The 14 roads which Otti opened up for public use on that occasion are part of a bigger plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 55 roads across Abia State. Otti is an Aba boy like the cerebral doyen of the national  parliament, Enyinnaya Abaribe, whose book titled *Made in Aba* released in 2021, underscores how deeply the lionised city impacted his makeup. Otti knows how much a good network of roads can make life better and business easier for his distinctively industrious people. A functional Aba will accelerate productivity in the city and mitigate unemployment in a commercial nexus which prides itself a rival to Onitsha and Nnewi both in Anambra State. Both towns are renowned for commerce and manufacturing.

Not one of the 14 roads which Governor Otti recently commissioned, nor any of the 44 others which are at various stages of completion, has been renamed after him. Some of them indeed still bear their colonial designations, a constant reminder of our history and antecedents. In Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), there was pomp and pageantry, Wednesday June 10, 2025, as President Bola Tinubu "commissioned" the International Conference Centre, (ICC), built and activated by the administration of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, 34 years back, in 1991. Nigeria was bestowed, at very short notice, the hosting rights of the Summit of the Organisation of African Unity, (OAU), as it was then referred to. Abuja spontaneously became a massive construction site within the period under consideration.

As the ICC was being readied, so were accommodation facilities built across various districts in Abuja, to house delegates to the OAU Summit. Till date, several residential complexes, mostly blocks of flats across Abuja are known by the name OAU Quarters, even though many residents of the various mini- OAU housing estates barely know the etymology of their present abodes. Babangida "stepped aside" in August 1993. Ernest Shonekan; Sani Abacha; Abdulsalami Abubakar; Olusegun Obasanjo; Umaru Yar'Adua; Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari have all come after him as Head of Interim National Government, (ING); military Heads of State and civilian Presidents. None of them christened the ICC or any other national asset for that matter, after himself. A standard, stately edifice, the ICC has remained the Numero Uno events destination in Abuja over the years. It has serially hosted world class dignitaries and functions across time and space. As serving President of the United States, the charismatic Bill Clinton was hosted to a state banquet at ICC in 2000. In similar fashion, Queen Elizabeth II of England topped the bill at the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, (CHOGM), hosted by President Olusegun Obasanjo. A record 51 out of 54 Heads of State of member countries of the Commonwealth attended the four-day event. Such is how treasured, how valued this national monument is.

That Tuesday June 10, 2025, an excitable Nyesom Wike, Tinubu’s Minister of FCTA, renamed the International Conference Centre, (ICC), the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. The edifice which Babangida built from the preliminary stages of earthworks for N240 million in 1991, was whitewashed for re-inauguration at a whooping *N39 Billion, in 2024. Typically, there was no competitive bidding. It was a direct award to a concern preferred by the FCT Minister. The ICC, by the way is the eighth monument, known to me, thus far christened after Tinubu within his first two years in office. Before it were the: Tinubu International Airport, Minna, Niger State; Tinubu Polytechnic, Gwarimpa, Abuja and Tinubu National Assembly Library, Abuja. There are also the Tinubu Immigrations Technology Building, Airport Road, Abuja; the Tinubu Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja; the Tinubu Way, (formerly Southern Parkway), Abuja, and also the Bola Tinubu Centre for Islamic Affairs, Kaduna, built by the Department of State Services, (DSS).

Tinubu seems to be lapping up blandishment, magnification and laudation as they coalesce towards his eventual deification. This is a path potentially laden with veritable landmines. We are never bound to accept and adopt every souvenir or memorabilia thrust at us. We can always ask our doctors questions about medications prescribed for us. Let's indulge Wike that he probably doesn't know the history of ICC. Tinubu does. He was Senator in 1992 and functioned alongside his colleagues, from the very same ICC, in Abuja, in the absence of a purpose-built parliamentary complex. I would, if I were Tinubu, have thanked Wike for his thoughtful gesture. I would have reminisced over Nigeria's political evolution and reminded him that Babangida in his time, it was, who conceived and erected the mega-structure which sits regally at the bosom of Abuja today. I would have enlightened Wike that just a few months ago, Babangida stepped forward to take responsibility for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which produced MKO Abiola as President.

I would have drawn Wike's attention to the fact that Babangida will be 84 on Sunday August 17, 2025. It would not be out of place to honour him with the ribbons and flowers of the ICC which was indeed his baby. Like or loathe him, Babangida has several positives against his eight year regime, from August 27, 1985 to August 26, 1993. He ensured the physical, effective relocation of Nigeria's seat of government from Lagos to Abuja, in 1991. This was 15 years after Abuja was so proclaimed by General Murtala Mohammed, in February 1976, just days before his assassination. He built the eyeful, sprawling State House, Abuja, a tourist monument in its own right. To enhance better governance and developmental coverage of the country, Babangida's government created Akwa Ibom and Katsina states in 1987, taking the number of states in the country from 19 to 21. On the sixth anniversary of his administration August 27, 1991, Babangida established an additional nine states, including Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun and Yobe, which brought the number of states in Nigeria to 30.

Babangida established the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), to instil discipline on our highways and curb carnage, and built the ambitious Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, to ease traffic in the water-constrained state. He continued Nigeria's anti-apartheid campaign against White domination in South Africa, despite being a military leader. Under him, Nigeria had very strong foreign affairs profile in the eyes of the international community under his leadership. The Technical Aid Corps Scheme, (TACS), under which auspices Nigeria sent teachers and professionals to needy African and Caribbean countries, was initiated under Babangida. Nigeria intervened in troubled West African countries from possible dismemberment arising from civil strife, under Babangida's watch. Nigeria initiated, led and substantially funded a multinational military peacekeeping corps under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), under him. We can go on.

Interactions between the State House and various states, ministries, departments and agencies, (MDAs) ahead of every programme to be attended by the President, must be painstaking, detailed and explicit. Pleasant "ambushes," detours away from agreed runs of events, and surprises of any kind are totally intolerable. This is the way it was in our time between 1999 and 2007. You cannot come to a high profile public event, especially the types Wike loves to telecast real-time on the network services of various television stations, to embarrass the President with such proclamations, in the name of springing surprises. Except of course if Tinubu himself is sucked into such ego-massaging and vainglorious labelling. Except if the President is indifferent to order and conformity, consisting with extant rules and regulations. Or indeed, the ultimate verdict of history.

Tinubu will do well to be very circumspect about the manner he consents to every other national treasure or government facility being named or renamed after him. He needs to rein in his officials so they can guide him aright. They shouldn't just be follow follow officials, to appropriate a phrase from the immutable lyrics of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. They shouldn't be content with just floating around as members of the President’s ring of "principal officers," without adding desired value. Once it becomes the vogue that state governments and government departments catch the bug, it will become a ridiculously unending practice, inimical to the person and office of the President. For context, a famous rubbish dump on the Aba- Port Harcourt expressway was named after a former Governor of the state who craved adulation at every opportunity. At the rate things are unravelling courtrooms; prison blocks; rehabilitation centres for substance indulgents; psychiatric hospitals, and similar institutions may hereafter don  Tinubu-esque appellations. Let's hope Tinubu wouldn't wake up one day only to discover that he has become the President of the Federal Republic of Bola Tinubu!

Not even Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada of Uganda* pulled off such a stunt.

Israel said it targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders on Friday at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country's main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes.

Iranian state television reported that Hossein Salami, the chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards corps, had been killed and the unit's headquarters in Tehran had been hit. Several children had been killed in a strike on a residential area in the capital, it said.

"We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.

"Moments ago Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement that Israel had "unleashed its wicked and bloody" hand in a crime against Iran and that it would receive "a bitter fate for itself".

An Israeli military official said Israel was striking "dozens" of nuclear and military targets including the facility at Natanz in central Iran. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.

The United States said it had no part in the operation, which raises the risk of a fresh escalation in tensions in the Middle East, a major oil producing region.

Alongside extensive air strikes, Israel's Mossad spy agency led a series of covert sabotage operations inside Iran, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli official. These operations were aimed at damaging Iran’s strategic missile sites and its air defence capabilities.

Iranian state media reported that at least two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran.

Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel's air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.

"Following the pre-emptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate time frame," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of soldiers had been called up and "prepared across all borders".

"We are amidst a historic campaign unlike any other. This is a critical operation to prevent an existential threat, by an enemy who is intent on destroying us," he said.

Israeli Minister Gideon Saar was holding "marathon of calls" with counterparts around the world regarding Israel's attack on Iran, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

U.S. "NOT INVOLVED"

U.S. President Donald Trump would convene a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday morning, the White House said.

Iran's armed forces spokesperson said Israel and its chief ally the United States would pay a "heavy price" for the attack, accusing Washington of providing support for the operation.

An Israeli official told Israel public broadcaster Kan that Israel had coordinated with Washington on the strikes.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio however said the United States was not involved and Tel Aviv had acted unilaterally for self-defence.

"We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio said in a statement.

"Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel," he added.

The State Department issued an advisory saying that all U.S. government employees in Israel and their family members should "shelter in place until further notice".

The attacks triggered sharp falls in stock prices in early Asian trade on Friday, led by a selloff in U.S. futures, while oil prices jumped as investors scurried to safe havens such as gold and the Swiss franc.

NUCLEAR TALKS DEADLOCKED

U.S. and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran's escalating uranium enrichment program in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. But the talks have appeared to be deadlocked.

Trump said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen" but reiterated his hopes for a peaceful resolution.

A source familiar with U.S. intelligence reports said there has been no recent change in the U.S. intelligence assessment that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei has not authorised the restarting of the nuclear weapons program that was shuttered in 2003.

Even so, U.S. intelligence had indicated that Israel was preparing a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

The U.S. military was planning for the full range of contingencies in the Middle East, including the possibility that it might have to help evacuate American civilians, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Reuters

An Air India passenger plane carrying more than 200 people crashed on Thursday after taking off from an airport in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, and the airline has confirmed there was one survivor, despite a police official earlier saying it appeared there were none.

Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London's Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time. There were 242 passengers and crew members onboard the flight.

First responders found at least one survivor who was in seat 11A next to an emergency exit onboard the plane, Vidhi Chaudhary, a state police officer, told Reuters.

"Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed," that man, Ramesh Viswashkumar, was quoted as telling the Hindustan Times. "It all happened so quickly."

"When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me," the 40-year-old also said, according to Reuters. "Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital."

The Hindustan Times posted an image of a boarding pass matching the man's name and seat number, with a stamp indicating a Thursday departure from Ahmedabad.

Chaudhary told Reuters, "Approximately 294 have died" and "This includes some students as the plane crashed on the building where they were staying."

The Associated Press also reported that at least one person survived the crash, citing a doctor at a hospital who spoke to the Press Trust of India. However, it added that it could not independently verify the information.

Relatives of Viswashkumar told Sky News they have spoken to him since the crash. He reportedly lives in London. 

Earlier, Ahmedabad’s city police commissioner, G.S. Malik, told the AP, "It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash."

The cause of the disaster is unclear. In videos circulating on social media purportedly showing the crash, the plane is seen with its nose raised up as it slowly descended to the ground, before bursting into a massive fireball.

Air India said that the 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 p.m. local time, and was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members.

The airline said the plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

"We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities," the airline said. "The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital."

The passengers were composed of 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national. The sole survivor, the airline confirmed, was a British national of Indian origin.

"Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones," the airline said. "A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident."

Local media showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in northwestern India.  The plane issued a "mayday" call to air traffic control before plunging out of the sky, Reuters reported. 

"The building on which it has crashed is a doctors' hostel... we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon," a senior police officer told Reuters. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, "The FAA is in contact with the NTSB regarding Air India flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), that was involved in an accident in India on Thursday, June 12."

"When an international incident occurs, that government leads the investigation. In the event assistance is requested, the NTSB is the official U.S. representative and the FAA provides technical support. We stand ready to launch a team immediately in coordination with the NTSB," it added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us." 

"It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected," he continued.

"The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer added.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site.

"We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation," he said.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, Flightradar24 reported.

"We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected," Boeing said in a statement.

In August 2020 an Air India Express Boeing-737 skidded off a hilltop runway in southern India, killing 21 people.

The worst air disaster in India was on Nov. 12, 1996, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhastan Airlines Flight near Charki Dadri in Haryana state, killing all 349 on board the two planes. 

Fox News

On Democracy Day, the heads of missions of the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and Canada would like to recognise and congratulate the Nigerian people’s commitment to 26 years of democratic governance. Healthy democracies are formed of many important ingredients and when marking 25 years of democracy in Nigeria in 2024, President Bola Tinubu underlined that in Nigeria “there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.” Free expression has long been a core value of Nigeria’s democracy. Nigeria’s constitution enshrines the right to freedom of expression, aiming to protect its citizens’ rights and foster a society where people can debate and discuss ideas free from government control. This right, a principle of trusting ordinary citizens to have discussion in the virtual public square, remains vital today.

In April, Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) raised concerns about the 2015 Cybercrimes Act, the amendments made to it in 2024, and the law’s impact on free expression. The Act has laudable aims: to combat online fraud and cyberattacks. There is growing evidence, however, that the Act is being misused by some to silence criticism and dissent. The NHRC’s advisory opinion on freedom of expression warned that it “has potentials for abuse, particularly with respect to arrests and prosecutions of activists, journalists, bloggers, and ordinary social media users.” In addition, in 2022 the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled that the Act is not in conformity with the country’s obligations related to freedom of expression under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Misuse of the Cybercrimes Act undermines democratic advancement and civic participation. It also jeopardises the confidence of investors and risks deterring the innovation needed for economic growth.

Consider the case of Dele Farotimi, charged with 12 counts of cybercrime after he reported alleged corruption in the judiciary in a book and on a podcast. Farotimi was allegedly detained in Lagos, transported across state lines to Ekiti, and brought to court in handcuffs. Though the charges were eventually withdrawn, his ordeal highlights a troubling issue – the Cybercrimes Act, originally intended to combat online fraud and cyberterrorism, can be misused as a tool to stifle free expression and undermine democratic engagement. Farotimi is not alone. Journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens have faced similar charges for sharing opinions or reporting on alleged corruption. This distortion of the law’s original intent can lead to citizens becoming hesitant to speak out, weakening democratic accountability and potentially fuelling distrust in government.

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) estimates the country loses $500 million per year to cybercrime. This problem requires a response. However, the Cybercrimes Act’s broad language, especially its vague definitions of “false information,” “cyberstalking,” “harassment,” and “insult” leave room for confusion and potential abuse. The law’s broad scope allows it to be misused against Nigerian citizens seeking to express dissent, form opinions, or criticise powerful people. NHRC has called on law enforcement to “exercise caution” in how they interpret the Act’s frequently used Section 24 to make sure that charges reflect an actual threat to public order. We therefore welcome the commitment from Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to collaborate with the National Assembly and relevant stakeholders in reviewing the Cybercrimes Act, so that it protects the values enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

The implications extend beyond free expression. Nigeria’s economic future depends on its ability to innovate and attract investment in the digital age. However, the Cybercrimes Act’s misapplication, even in a small number of cases, risks detracting the innovators and entrepreneurs the government wants to invest in Nigeria. The Cybercrimes Act also contributes to uncertainty abroad about Nigeria’s legal landscape. Its vague provisions make it difficult for businesses and investors to assess legal risks, hindering investment in industries that rely on digital content. Reform is needed to protect both citizens’ rights and Nigeria’s future.

The undersigned Heads of Mission in Nigeria encourage Nigerian lawmakers to consider reform of the Cybercrimes Act to narrow the definitions of key terms such as “false information,” cyberstalking,” insult,” hatred,” and “harassment,” and ensure those definitions cannot be used erroneously to silence critics and censor expression. As friends of Nigeria who share the country’s strong commitment to democratic values, we want Nigeria to realise its potential as a democratic digital powerhouse. We would therefore welcome the Nigerian government amending the Act to strike a balance between protecting citizens while preserving human rights, including free expression. This will be a difficult balance to strike but is vital for delivering what Nigeria wants: a stable and open democracy, and economic growth underpinned by investment.

Nigeria is not alone in facing this problem. Democracies across the world are grappling with the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities that the digital world presents. Through the Council of Europe’s Global Action on Cybercrime project, Nigerian lawmakers are receiving funding and technical assistance to help the current review of the Act lead to legislation that meets international standards and best practices. However, the deadline for the Act’s review has consistently been delayed, and we urge Nigerian lawmakers to make this review a priority, and ensure it is open to public consultation and debate.

Free expression is a precious commodity that relies on all of us to respect it. It is a fundamental tenant of Nigeria’s constitution. Nigerians, and any citizens of countries around the world, should be able to hold and express their views, even if those opinions are unpopular.

Signed

Heads of Missions

Richard M Mills, Jr, US Embassy

Richard Montgomery, British High Commission

Sanna Selin, Embassy of Finland

Svein Baera, Embassy of Norway

Pasquale Salvaggio, Canadian High Commission

President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours on 66 Nigerians — both living and deceased — in recognition of their pivotal roles in Nigeria’s democratic journey, including a landmark posthumous pardon and recognition for the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni Nine.

Speaking at a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday, Tinubu announced the honours as part of broader efforts to immortalise the sacrifices made in the struggle for democracy and justice.

Among the most notable recognitions was the posthumous award of Nigeria’s highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), to Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. Yar’Adua, who died in prison in 1997, becomes only the third non-president to receive the GCFR, joining the ranks of Obafemi Awolowo and M.K.O. Abiola.

“Shehu Yar’Adua epitomised courage and unity. He died a political prisoner but lives forever as a national hero,” Tinubu said.

Also honoured were Kudirat Abiola, who was posthumously awarded Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), and Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, who was awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). Tinubu praised them for their roles in the June 12 pro-democracy movement and for defending electoral integrity.

“Kudirat Abiola was the voice of a silenced mandate. Her assassination in 1996 could not extinguish the flame she lit for justice,” Tinubu said. “Professor Nwosu stood for truth, transparency, and a new vision of electoral integrity in Nigeria.”

In a historic move, Tinubu also announced a full posthumous pardon for Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight fellow Ogoni activists — known collectively as the Ogoni Nine — who were executed in 1995 under the military regime of Sani Abacha.

Saro-Wiwa, a writer and environmentalist, was posthumously awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), while his colleagues — Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine — were each conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

“I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon,” Tinubu declared. “Their unjust execution became a global symbol of the struggle against environmental injustice and authoritarian repression.”

The execution of the Ogoni Nine sparked international condemnation and led to Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth. Their posthumous recognition, nearly 30 years later, follows longstanding calls from both local and international human rights groups for justice and official exoneration.

The full list of honourees reflects a broad spectrum of civil rights advocates, journalists, lawyers, and politicians who played vital roles in defending democratic principles. Other notable recipients include Wole Soyinka (GCON), Bola Ige (CFR), Femi Falana (CON), Reuben Fasoranti (CFR), and Ken Saro-Wiwa (CON).

“Today, we immortalise not just names, but ideals — sacrifice, courage, and unwavering belief in a democratic Nigeria,” Tinubu concluded.

Selected List of National Honourees:

• Shehu Musa Yar’Adua – GCFR

• Kudirat Abiola – CFR

• Humphrey Nwosu – CON

• Ken Saro-Wiwa – CON

• Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuine – OON

• Wole Soyinka – GCON

• Bola Ige – CFR

• Femi Falana – CON

• Reuben Fasoranti – CFR

• Ndubuisi Kanu, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alao Aka Bashorun, Frank Kokori, Sawaba Gambo, Edwin Madunagu, Matthew Hassan Kukah – CON

• Kunle Ajibade, Nosa Igiebor, Dapo Olorunyomi, Seye Kehinde – OON

The complete list includes individuals from all geopolitical zones, highlighting a shared national history of resistance, advocacy, and the long struggle for democracy.