Don criticizes Tinubu list of heroes of 12 June

A main member of the National Association of Political correspondents (NAPOC) in the 80s and 90s, dr. Tayo Popola, criticized the list of the eminent Nigerians recently honored by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the heroic roles they starred in the struggle of June 12, saying that “the president should add more deserving people”.

Speaking after examining the list of honors, Popola, who was one of the 18 journalists who covered the Basorun Inhalan campaign throughout the nation during his election campaign, expressed dismayed for the fact that the list excluded the name of Senator Anthony Adbuye, agent of the Basorun Abiola campaign at the Jos 1992 Convention of the deceased Social Democratic Party (SDP).

While describing Adophuye as an unpeiled activist on June 12 to date, Popola has added that for history and record purposes, all the names of the eminent Nigerians who fought for the revaluation of the elections of 12 June 1993 should be listed in the Hall of Fame.

Popoola, author of the biography of Adfuye entitled “The Man, Sen Tony adophuye”, told the activities of the former senator who represents the Senatorial District of Lagos East, Anthony Adfuye, during this turbulent period in the history of Nigeria in chapter six of the book.

According to Popola, Senator Adfuye was at the forefront of agitation for the revaluation of the results of the elections of 12 June. Writing the travails of Adfuye while mounted an aggressive campaign for the deceased politician, Popoola added that he remained a close partner of Abiola during his ordeal, even during his political captivity. He observed that Adfuye was one of the 50 with whom Abiola corresponded to personal notes before his death.

The biographer, who is also a teaching of mass communication at the University of Lagos, said that Adfuye has united forces with other people of progressive mentality to bravely ask for a reversal of the cancellation by Babangida. Its resolve in support of Abiola’s mandate, while others have changed the melody attracted attention from the military regime successor of Abacha, causing numerous life attempts, many of which was lucky to have survived.

Speaking of his difficult situation during the years of Abacha in the biography, Adfuye said:
“The years of Abacha have interrupted so many of my plans in life. Since then, I have struggled to recover.”

The Don University recognized the roles that the 66 people honored by President Bola Tinubu carried out in the struggle of June 12 and the subsequent struggles for the largest democratic freedoms. However, he joined the other Nigerians in asking for the addition of more iconic Nigerians, such as Adfuye, who also carried out vital roles in the struggle for the revaluation of June 12, a fundamental period in the rebirth of the nascent Nigerian democracy.

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