Tinubu Confers CFR on Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, Apologizes for Earlier Omission

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), a prominent advocate of democratic governance and key figure in the June 12 struggle.

The announcement was made during the commissioning of a 300-bed hospital and vocational training institute in Kaduna, where President Tinubu described Colonel Umar as “the soldier of democracy.”

Colonel Umar, a former military governor and outspoken critic of authoritarian rule, was notably absent from the list of June 12 honorees announced on Democracy Day.

Addressing the omission, President Tinubu offered a public apology, acknowledging Umar’s pivotal role in the fight for the restoration of democracy following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The national honour comes as recognition of Umar’s consistent advocacy for justice, transparency, and democratic principles over the years.