A decorated journalist and DevReporting’s editorial advisor, Dapo Olorunyomi, has described the conferment of Nigeria’s National Honour on him by President Bola Tinubu as “a helpful affirmation of the interface between journalism and the project of democracy”.
Mr Olorunyomi, in a terse remark shared with this newspaper, however noted that many others deserving of such honour remain faceless and unrewarded.
Speaking at the joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday as part of activities to mark the nation’s Democracy Day, President Tinubu said Mr Olorunyomi’s honour is in recognition of his many sacrifices in defence of civil rule and press freedom.
Though the President’s speech indicated Mr Olorunyomi was conferred with the honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), findings by DevReporting revealed that the President approved the CON title for Mr Olorunyomi while other pro-democracy activists and journalists were also honoured including some deceased prominent figures.
The President said: “As we mark a twenty-sixth year of unbroken democracy, it is right to honour those who have made sacrifices in the past, braving all the odds and the guns to ensure we have a regime of democracy in our country.
“In this light, I announce the conferment of the posthumous national honour of CFR on Kudirat Abiola, the heroine of the June 12 struggle.”
For posthumous honour, Mr Tinubu listed the former military general, Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR); the chairman of the electoral body that conducted the annulled election, Humphrey Nwosu (CON); another military official, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON); northern Nigerian politician, Balarabe Musa (CFR); pro-democracy icon, Alfred Rewani (CFR); late journalist, Bagauda Kaltho (OON; late civil right activists- Chima Ubani (OON), Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON), Alao Aka Bashorun (CON), Chief Frank Kokori (CON), Emma Ezeazu (OON), Bamidele Aturu (OON), and president’s late boss on friend and medical doctor, Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON).
“I also confer national honours on Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), the journalist and journalism teacher; Kunle Ajibade (OON); Nosa Igiebor (OON), Dapo Olorunyomi…” the speech partly reads.
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Olorunyomi speaks
On Thursday, Mr Olorunyomi, who is desirous of comprehensive reform in Nigeria’s democratic journey, believes that recognising the heroes of democracy is just one of many steps required to enthrone through democracy in the country.
“It is a helpful affirmation of the interface between journalism and the project of democracy, yet the award is also a realisation that many worthy and silent workers for that project remain faceless and unrewarded,” he wrote.
About Nigeria’s Democracy Day
The choice of 12 June as Nigeria’s Democracy Day is symbolic. It was on the date in 1993 when Nigerians across the country filed out in their millions to participate in a presidential election described by many as the nation’s freest electoral process.
But rather than announcing late business mogul Moshood Abiola, as the president-elect, the then military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the process.
The situation threw Nigeria into chaos which lasted about six years until the return to democracy in 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn as the elected President in the fourth republic.
Within the six years when violence, trepidation and harassment of innocent Nigerians by the succeeding military juntas reigned, some notable Nigerians risked their lives to fight for the enthronement of democracy. And within the pro-democracy and media circle was Mr Olorunyomi, who has since continued to fight on.
Mr Olorunyomi’s continued passion for good journalism and development have informed his decision to offer his support for DevReporting pro bono.
DevReporting is a niche newspaper dedicated to promoting informed discourse, balanced reporting, and comprehensive impact on development issues, especially in Nigeria.
Mr Olorunyomi is also the publisher of Nigeria’s leading investigative newspaper- PREMIUM TIMES, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
Olorunyomi’s many sacrifices
As a journalist of note, Mr Olorunyomi has consistently fought oppression and defended the rights of the masses globally. He loves accountability, transparency and good governance, and has advocated all these through journalism and pro-democracy works.
He worked with the Concord Newspaper founded by late Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 12 June presidential election and was a founding editor at The News, PM News and Tempo Magazine.
Following his persistent criticism of the military dictator, Sani Abacha, Mr Olorunyomi was declared wanted and was forced into exile in the United States of America. His wife, Ladi, was detained for more than two months while he was in exile.
However, Mr Olorunyomi’s participation in the call for the release of all political detainees including his wife led to their eventual release.
On his return to Nigeria, Mr Olorunyomi has continued to be immersed in activities aimed at entrenching democratic ethos, even as he served as the project director for Freedom House, a non-profit pro-democracy organisation headquartered in Washington DC. He later served as the policy director and chief of staff to the executive chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency- Economic and Fonancial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He established the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and worked with the now rested 234Next newspaper before founding the PREMIUM TIMES and CJID.
The trio of WSCIJ, PREMIUM TIMES and CJID have continued to support the enthronement of ethical and accountability journalism and female leadership in Nigerian newsrooms and across the continent of Africa.
