Presidency Denies Awarding National Honours To Aisha Yesufu, “Fake News”

Abuja, Nigeria – The Presidency has firmly refuted claims circulating online that human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and 35 others have been awarded national honours by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissing the reports as “fake news.” The denial comes amid growing controversy surrounding a viral document listing names supposedly recognised during the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations.

In a statement released on Friday, Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, took to Facebook to counter the claims. He described the widely shared list, which reportedly originated from a publication by Leadership newspaper, as false and misleading.

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“The story on a viral list of national honours featuring the name of Aisha Yesufu and others credited to the Leadership newspaper is fake news. It should be ignored,” Ajayi wrote.

Ajayi added that the Presidency had not released any new list of national award recipients outside those officially announced by President Tinubu during his June 13 address to the joint session of the National Assembly, which was part of the 2025 Democracy Day activities.

This clarification followed widespread circulation of a document listing 102 names, including Aisha Yesufu, as recipients of prestigious national honours. The document stirred heated reactions, particularly due to Yesufu’s inclusion, given her outspoken criticism of the Tinubu administration.

The Democracy Day Announcement and the Real List

President Tinubu, in his address on Thursday, June 13, revealed the official list of national honourees, naming 66 individuals, many of whom were honoured posthumously for their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey. Among those honoured were:

• Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a former Chief of Staff and democracy icon;
• Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission who oversaw the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election;
• Kudirat Abiola, wife of late Chief MKO Abiola and an emblematic figure of the June 12 struggle.

Notably absent from this officially sanctioned list was Aisha Yesufu, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s civil rights landscape. Yesufu rose to national prominence as a co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement and later, for her visible role in the #EndSARS protests of 2020, where she became a symbol of resistance against police brutality.

Online Reactions and Political Undercurrents

The erroneous list sparked immediate backlash and debate on social media, particularly among supporters of both the administration and civil society groups. Critics of the fake list accused its creators of attempting to stir political tensions by falsely linking the Tinubu government to individuals who are openly critical of its policies.

Yesufu, who has repeatedly condemned the Tinubu administration, was seen by some as an unlikely recipient of a government honour—making her inclusion in the unauthenticated list even more controversial. Several political commentators speculated that the misinformation might have been designed to sow confusion and division or discredit the awards process.

Transparency in Honours Process

In light of the incident, calls have intensified for the Presidency and the National Honours Committee to adopt greater transparency in publishing the list of recipients. Public trust in national honours, which are designed to recognise exceptional service and patriotism, can be compromised by unofficial publications and rumours, critics warn.

“The national honours system must maintain its integrity,” one political analyst remarked. “When fake lists go viral, it discredits not just the government but also the deserving recipients who truly earned their recognition.”

Temitope Ajayi emphasized that the only valid source for names of national honourees is President Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech or official publications from government agencies directly responsible for awards, such as the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

 Combating Misinformation

The Presidency’s swift denial underscores a growing trend in Nigerian politics, where misinformation and fake news continue to threaten the integrity of public discourse. As Nigeria’s political environment becomes increasingly digitized, analysts say digital media literacy and prompt official responses are key to preserving the truth.

With the 2025 Democracy Day activities still under public review, and President Tinubu’s administration under close scrutiny, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of information ecosystems in the age of viral content.

For now, the message from the Presidency is unequivocal: Ignore the fake list. No new honourees have been named beyond the 66 announced on June 13.