Controversy has erupted over President Bola Tinubu’s recent list of honourees commemorating the historic June 12 pro-democracy struggle, as activists urge a comprehensive review to include overlooked heroes — both Nigerian and international.

At the heart of the calls is the late Walter Carrington, the former US Ambassador to Nigeria from 1993 to 1997, whose unwavering support for Nigeria’s pro-democracy activists during the darkest days of military rule has largely gone unrecognized. Carrington’s advocacy for the annulled June 12, 1993, election helped keep the dream of democracy alive and inspired generations of activists.

“Walter Carrington was more than a diplomat — he was a committed ally who risked his position to support Nigerians fighting for their rights,” said Stanley Dunia, coordinator of the group Quintessential Professionals, which is spearheading the campaign to award Carrington a posthumous honour.

The activists’ statement also highlighted glaring omissions of several Nigerian democracy veterans from the official honours list, including influential figures like Chief Ayo Opadokun, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, and human rights advocate Joe Okei-Odumakin, among others.

Many of those left out are known critics of the current administration, raising questions about whether political bias played a role.

A presidency insider, however, attributed the omissions to human error, revealing that even some of President Tinubu’s closest allies were mistakenly left off the list.

“We are working on compiling an updated list to correct the oversights,” the source said.

The omission has sparked intense debate nationwide, as Nigerians call for an inclusive recognition of those who sacrificed for the nation’s democracy — regardless of political affiliations.

June 12 remains a symbol of resilience and hope in Nigeria’s political history.

For activists and citizens alike, ensuring that all true champions are honoured is essential to preserving the spirit of the struggle.