BREAKING: NADECO Kingpin Ralph Obioha Rejects Tinubu’s Award For June 12 Heroes, Cites Jailing Of Nnamdi Kanu
Former National Democratic Coalition NADECO chieftain, Chief Ralph Obioha, has rejected his national award announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with honours for other pro-democratic heroes on Democracy Day June 12.
A National Assembly Member from, 1979 to 1983, Obioha issued a statement on Wednesday to reject the presidential gesture.
He said: “It is… difficult for me to reconcile acceptance of this honour with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
Dated June 15, 2026 and titled, “DEMOCRACY DAY: WHY I RESPECTFULLY DECLINE PRESIDENT TINUBU’S NATIONAL HONOUR,” the statement said in full: “I wish to express my sincere appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Federal Government of Nigeria for considering me worthy of a national honour as announced during the 2026 Democracy Day celebrations.
“I do not take this recognition lightly. Any honour conferred by the Federal Republic of Nigeria is significant and deserving of gratitude. However, after careful reflection and in fidelity to the principles that guided our struggle for democracy under the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), I have decided, respectfully but firmly, to decline the award.
“As a senior citizen and a prominent participant in the pro-democracy movement, I stood alongside many patriotic Nigerians, including President Tinubu, during the dark years of military rule. We risked our liberty and our lives in the struggle to actualize the June 12 mandate of Chief M.K.O. Abiola because we believed in a Nigeria founded on justice, freedom, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental human rights.
“One of the cardinal principles of that struggle was the defence of freedom of expression. Democracy thrives where citizens are free to express their views, including criticism of those in authority, without fear of persecution. Throughout history and across established democracies, leaders have been subjected to criticism and dissent. Such expressions are not threats to democracy; they are among its defining features.
“It is therefore difficult for me to reconcile acceptance of this honour with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. While opinions may differ regarding his methods, rhetoric, or political objectives, the broader issue remains one of justice, due process, and the protection of fundamental freedoms. President Tinubu, himself a beneficiary and champion of democratic struggles, is uniquely positioned to demonstrate statesmanship by pursuing a resolution that promotes national reconciliation, healing, and respect for constitutional rights.
“Beyond this matter, I remain deeply troubled by the worsening state of insecurity across our country. Nigerians continue to lose their lives daily to terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and other violent crimes. Families are displaced, communities devastated, and citizens increasingly uncertain about their safety. The primary responsibility of any government is the protection of life and property, and many Nigerians continue to look to their leaders for more decisive action in addressing these challenges.
“My decision should not be interpreted as a personal attack on President Tinubu or a rejection of the institution of national honours. Rather, it is a principled position rooted in the ideals that inspired the June 12 struggle and the sacrifices made by countless Nigerians in pursuit of democracy.
“To accept this honour at a time when many of the values for which we fought remain insufficiently realized would, in my view, be inconsistent with those convictions. My conscience therefore compels me to respectfully decline the award.
“I remain committed to the cause of democracy, justice, national unity, freedom of expression, and the advancement of a Nigeria where every citizen enjoys equal protection under the law and lives in peace, dignity, and security.
“I thank the President and the Federal Government for the recognition and wish our nation continued progress toward the democratic ideals for which so many Nigerians struggled and sacrificed.”
