Presidency denies viral list of national honours including Aisha Yesufu
By Kunle Sanni
The Presidency has disowned a viral list circulating on social media that purportedly names new recipients of national honours, including prominent human rights activist Aisha Yesufu.
On Friday, the unverified list, which features 102 names, sparked widespread reactions online, particularly over Yesufu’s inclusion due to her well-known criticism of the Bola Tinubu administration.
The list contradicts President Tinubu’s official announcement on Thursday, in which 66 individuals were named as national honours recipients for their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Reacting to the viral list, Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described it as fake and urged the public to disregard it.
“The story on a viral list of national honours featuring the name of Aisha Yesufu and others credited to Leadership newspaper is fake news. It should be ignored,” Ajayi said in a post on his X account.
He clarified that no additional names have been approved beyond those announced during the President’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly to mark Democracy Day on June 12.
President Tinubu had on Thursday conferred national honours on 66 individuals who were recognised for their roles in the struggle to entrench democracy in Nigeria.
