Presidency Mistakes Life for Death Again as Tinubu Confers Posthumous Honours on Two Living Nigerians, Apologises

President Bola Tinubu, during his Democracy Day address at the National Assembly on Wednesday, mistakenly conferred posthumous national honours on two prominent Nigerians who are still alive — a slip the presidency later acknowledged as an error.

In his speech, the president named Pa Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, and Dr. Edwin Madunagu, a renowned professor of botany and leftist intellectual, among recipients of posthumous national honours. Fasoranti was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while Madunagu received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Shortly after the address, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, issued a statement correcting the mistake. He explained that both Fasoranti and Madunagu were “incorrectly included” under the posthumous category and confirmed that the individuals are “very much alive.”

“We sincerely regret this oversight,” Onanuga said, adding that necessary corrections would be made across all official digital platforms of the State House.