A civil society organisation, Quintessential Professionals, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to posthumously honour the late former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Walter Carrington, for his unwavering commitment to the restoration of democratic governance during one of Nigeria’s darkest political periods.
Carrington, who served as the U.S. Ambassador between 1993 and 1997, became widely respected across Nigeria for his outspoken stance against military rule and for supporting the call to revalidate the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. He passed away in August 2020.
In a statement released to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, the group’s coordinator, Stanley Dunia, recounted Carrington’s courageous advocacy during the turbulent years of military repression. The group highlighted that, despite his diplomatic position, Carrington consistently aligned himself with Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement at great personal and professional risk.
“Carrington was not just a foreign diplomat; he was a friend of the Nigerian people. He stood shoulder to shoulder with pro-democracy activists in demanding justice and the revalidation of the June 12 election. His commitment was such that he even married a Nigerian medical doctor, Arese, from Edo State, and developed deep ties with the country,” the statement read.
The group called on President Tinubu to include Carrington among the national heroes recognised annually on Democracy Day, arguing that his role in supporting the nation’s democratic rebirth is deserving of formal acknowledgment and honour, even if posthumously.
Beyond Carrington, the group also criticised the recently released Democracy Day honours list by the presidency, claiming it overlooked several notable Nigerian pro-democracy advocates.
They expressed concern over the exclusion of key players in the historic struggle against military dictatorship, particularly those affiliated with Afenifere and the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Among the overlooked figures, the group listed Chief Ayo Opadokun, Pa Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, and Senator Jonathan Zwingina.
Also named were former Lagos State Deputy Governor Kofo Akerele-Bucknor; former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Reverend Adebiyi; human rights advocate Chief Olisa Agbakoba; and civil society leaders like Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, the late Innocent Chukwuma, Mike Ozekhome, as well as the late Yinka Odumakin and his wife, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.
The statement stressed that failure to recognise these individuals has raised public suspicion and sparked debate about possible political bias. According to the group, there is growing concern that some individuals may have been deliberately excluded due to their perceived opposition or criticism of the current administration.
“The Presidency should take a second look at the list and ensure it reflects fairness and historical accuracy. Those who gave their all for Nigeria’s democratic future—whether alive or deceased—deserve to be acknowledged and honoured accordingly,” Dunia concluded.