The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, has applauded the national honours bestowed on some journalism icons, including Sam Amuka-Pemu, publisher of Vanguard newspapers; Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Dare Babarinsa, a popular newspaper columnist; and Dapo Olorunyomi, founder and publisher of Premium Times.

Also on the list of recipients wereKunle Ajibade, executive editor at TheNews; Seye Kehinde, publisher of City People magazine; Nosa Igiebor, Editor-in-Chief of TELL, perhaps Nigeria’s most successful news magazine; and Bagauda Kaltho, a senior correspondent of TheNews magazine who was murdered in a bomb blast in 1996 in Kaduna State.

These media icons were part of 139 Nigerians honoured for their invaluable contributions to Nigerian democracy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the June 12 Democracy Day celebration.

In a statement signed by Adeshina Oyetayo, his Special Adviser on Research, Media, and Documentation, Obasa expressed his sentiments. According to him, “It is heartwarming to see these journalism greats being honoured for their courage, resilience, and steadfastness in using the power of their pen to fight the tyranny of military dictatorship. They risked their lives and livelihoods, braving odds, guns, and arbitrary arrests and imprisonments — all in the fight for the enthronement, growth, and survival of democracy in Nigeria.

They are the true heroes of our democracy and deserve all the honour bestowed upon them.”

Obasa further commended them for their unwavering dedication and sacrifices for Nigeria, urging them to keep their passion for a better society alive and burning. He encouraged them not to be slowed down by age or any other existential issues.

“The Nigeria you risked everything for is almost here. We need you to continue to be the watchdog of our democracy,” Obasa stated.

“Interestingly, Amuka-Pemu, whom President Tinubu described as ‘a legendary journalist and publisher who has remained true to his lifetime calling,’ could not have received a more fitting 90th birthday gift than the conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) title on him.

Amuka-Pemu, founder of Vanguard newspaper, turns 90 on Friday, June 13. Similarly, Onanuga, founder of TheNews magazine, and Babarinsa, co-founder of TELL magazine, were also conferred the CON title. Olorunyomi, Ajibade, Igiebor, and Kehinde received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) title.

Conversely, Kaltho, who was posthumously awarded the OON, was one of the journalists who paid the supreme price during the despotic regime of the late General Sani Abacha,” he added.