Nigerians Perceived it as a Badge of Dishonour
 Kayode Eso, Cosmas Mduka, Obaleye Olayinka, Gov Uduaghan, MD Abubakar IGP, Charity Angya and Mike Adenuga are among the 149 national awardees | September 11, 2012 By Vanguard CRITICISMS, yesterday, greeted the list of 149 eminent Nigerians, who would be conferred with National Honours by President Goodluck Jonathan on September 17. While some dismissed the list as political, some said a host of the awardees do not deserve the awards. Among those who spoke on the issue in a telephone chat with Vanguard include 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Prof. Pat Utomi; Afenifere elder, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Petroleum minister, Prof Tam David-West; National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive change, CPC, Engr Rotimi Fashakin; Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr Joe Igbokwe. PDP keeps mum They spoke as National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, refused to comment on the issue when newsmen approached him at the national headquarters of the ruling party in Abuja. |
| Utomi said: “I already have my position on it and I don’t intend to change that. For me, a real honour is when you go to a village, find a headmaster who for 30 to 40 years worked so diligently, and you also look for 200 to 300 personalities, who had become Professors or Doctors who might not have been anything except for the diligence of that headmaster. That is a person you award a CFR not some egomaniac who has stolen from the country and never adds value to it.” Adebanjo spoke in like manner. He said: “It is not just now that this started, National honours have been discredited since three to five years ago. What they are supposed to give to credible Nigerians that have served this country diligently are now being given to party leaders. For instance, when Chief Tony Anenih was given a National Award, that was the year Olusegun Obasanjo said he gave Anenih as Minister of works N10 billion for the construction of Lagos- Ore, Benin Expressway and since then, they have been re-awarding that road contract. I am not a fan of national honours, it has been seriously discredited. But for a few, it is well deserved. I am disappointed and I didn’t bother to read the details because it can actually insult your intelligence.” Adenuga’s GCON is political — David-West To David-West, the way the honours are awarded to non-deserving persons could not inspire the younger generation. His words: “Any nation that gives over 100 people national award at the same time cannot be a serious nation. The whole thing looks like mass production. My observations are simple. The GCON that was given to Mike Adenuga is political. How can Nigeria relegate eminent jurist like Justice Kayode Eso? He was given CFR alongside Justice Mary Odili”. Does it in anyway make sense? I believe that at the time Eso was active in his days, Odili should be in Law school. But today, she is being given the same CFR with Eso, who performed excellently in the history of the judiciary. Odili only came to Abuja two years ago. It is on record that Eso was the only person, who interpreted the two-third majority controversy of the 1979 presidential election properly. National honours are supposed to inspire the younger generation to excel for the country, but thieves are the ones who get national honours in Nigeria. I can never accept any award from Jonathan.” Continues @ http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/criticisms-trail-national-awards-david-west-utomi-adebanjo-others-slam-fg/ |
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