Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia, Amb. Ayo Olukanni, has made a direct appeal to the Presidency to confer a National Honour on veteran journalist Soji Omotunde, describing him as an unsung hero of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle who is now battling severe dementia.
In a message addressed to Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Olukanni revealed that Omotunde, one-time editor of the influential Africa Concord Magazine, is undergoing rehabilitation for “full blown Dementia.”
Olukanni said he has been closely involved with ongoing efforts to support Omotunde’s medical care. “I am aware of efforts to support him financially to deal with his medical conditions,” he stated. “But I am also of the firm view that Soji Omotunde deserves a National Honour as we remember those who fought for Democracy in Nigeria.”
Africa Concord, published in the 1980s and 1990s, was a critical voice during Nigeria’s military era. Under Omotunde’s editorship, the magazine earned a reputation for bold reporting and commentary that challenged authoritarian rule and pushed for democratic governance. Olukanni noted: “We all remember the role he played as editor of Africa Concord Magazine in the quest for recognition that late Chief M.K.O Abiola” referencing the magazine’s coverage during the turbulent June 12 struggle.
Olukanni, who also served as Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, tied his appeal to a shared history with Omotunde and other media and political figures. He listed Dapo Olorunyomi of Premium Times, Idowu Obasa, Seye Kehinde of City People, veteran labour journalist Owei Lakemfa, Dele Morakinyo, Senator Femi Ojudu and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi as part of a generation shaped by activism and journalism.
“Some of those I listed above were all at the Great Ife in the mid 70s to early 80s,” Olukanni said. The University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, was a hotbed of student activism and produced many of the journalists and advocates who later confronted military regimes.
Olukanni’s appeal comes amid growing demands for the Federal Government to recognize living veterans of the democracy movement, particularly those facing illness or economic hardship. Civil society groups have argued that many journalists who risked detention and closure of their platforms during the struggle have been overlooked in national awards.
Omotunde’s current condition underscores the urgency, Olukanni implied, arguing that honouring him now would send a strong message that Nigeria remembers those who sacrificed for its democratic space. “This is not just about Soji. It is about how we treat those who stood up when it mattered,” he added.
