In a clarification statement issued by the Nigerian presidency, it has been confirmed that popular activist Aisha Yesufu was not awarded any national honors. This announcement came after a viral list circulated online, suggesting that Yesufu was among the recipients of the honors conferred by President Bola Tinubu. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, described the list as “fake news” and advised the public to ignore it.
The confusion arose when an X user drew attention to the supposed honor, suggesting it was a reward for Yesufu’s support of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Yesufu has been a vocal critic of the APC and has consistently expressed her support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election. She believes that Obi’s ideologies are what Nigeria needs for a better future and has openly criticized the current administration.
Yesufu was quick to respond to the false claim, stating “God forbid! It can never be this Aisha Yesufu. Thank you.” Her response reflects her strong stance against the APC and her unwavering support for Obi, whom she believes won the 2023 presidential election but was allegedly robbed of victory due to electoral manipulation.
President Tinubu had conferred honors on several Nigerians and rights activists on Thursday, with Shehu Sani, a popular activist and former parliamentarian, being one of the recipients. However, Ajayi clarified that the president did not award fresh honors beyond those mentioned in his Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly. The presidency’s statement aims to set the record straight and dispel any misinformation surrounding the honors list.
