Honouring Unsung Heroes: Col. Abubakar D. Umar Reflects on His CFR Award and the June 12 Struggle

By Col. Abubakar D. Umar (Rtd)

When the President graciously informed me of his decision to confer on me the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) for my role in the struggle to validate the June 12, 1993, election and affirm Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate, my immediate thought was: why only me? What about the many unsung heroes—officers and men who risked their careers and lives alongside me?

Though I was a leader within the military movement, my contribution was no greater than theirs. While I have been publicly recognized and celebrated, including through this National Honour, many remain anonymous. It is my duty to acknowledge these patriots and commend their sacrifices, which helped pave the way for Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation.

Chief MKO Abiola won over 80% of the Armed Forces’ votes in that election, underscoring the collective effort within the military. This list is not exhaustive, as many others served under different commands. I apologize to those whose names I may have missed and pray that God rewards your sacrifices.

Among the foremost is my deputy at the Armoured Corps Centre and School, Col. MA Garba, who continued our mission even after some of us were arrested, detained, and retired in October 1993. He rose to the rank of Major General. Others include:

• Lt. Col. Lawal Jaafaru Isa
• Lt. Col. UF Ahmed
• Lt. Col. MS Dasuki
• Lt. Col. ML Gwadabe
• Lt. Col. J. Temlong
• Lt. Col. Musa Shehu
• Lt. Col. Chris Eze
• Lt. Col. HM Dzarma
• Lt. Col. Isa Jibrin
• Lt. Col. JOS Oshanupin
• Lt. Col. A. Oloruntoba (Kabiesi Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom)
• Lt. Col. Moke
• Lt. Col. Happy Bulus
• Lt. Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola
• Col. J Okai
• Col. E. Ndubueze
• Lt. Col. Yakubu Muazu
• Lt. Col. Yahaya Abubakar (Current Etsu Nupe)
• Major Saad Abubakar (Current Sultan of Sokoto)
• Maj. Abba Maimalari
• Maj. Jamil Tahir
• Maj. Buzugbe
• Maj. LP Aprezi
• Maj. MK Yake
• Maj. J Dawah
• Maj. Suleiman Wali
• Maj. Dauda Komo
• Maj. Lucky Torrie
• Maj. JS Zaruwa
• Maj. M Sumaye
• Maj. Sani Bawa
• Maj. Ndaliman
• Maj. Ahmed
• Maj. M Bawa
• Lt. Col. JB Ahmadu
• Capt. Junaid Bindawa
• Capt. Lar

I accept this award with humility on behalf of all these officers and men. The honour will be truly meaningful only if the democracy we fought for delivers real dividends. This requires leaders at all levels to govern with the fear of God and uphold democratic principles.

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For Nigeria’s democracy to thrive, good governance must take precedence over self-serving politicking. The three branches of government must operate independently yet cooperatively. One enduring lesson from those officers and men is their commitment to accountability over sycophancy—a lesson our political leaders should embrace.

Unfortunately, sycophancy remains a scourge, fostering arrogance and vanity among leaders. Men of straw are often elevated by self-serving sycophants. The President must lead a decisive campaign against sycophancy, including the troubling trend of naming public institutions after sitting Presidents or Governors.

Recently, the Senate President humorously predicted that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 election with 99.9% of the votes. While known for his humor, the President should distance himself from such claims to preserve democratic integrity.

God bless Nigeria.

Abubakar Dangiwa Umar
Colonel (Rtd)

Note: The June 12, 1993, election is widely regarded as Nigeria’s fairest election, annulled by the military regime, sparking a pro-democracy struggle that ultimately led to the restoration of civilian rule in 1999.