Some 365 Nigerians (some deserving and others not so deserving) were on Tuesday November 15, 2011 given National Honours at a ceremony performed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Except for the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), all categories of awards from the Federal Republic Medal (MFR) II to Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) had recipients.
This year’s award recipients are the highest in number in the history of the annual event, which was instituted in 1964. Like in the recent past, the makeup of this year’s list raises questions that seek to challenge the essence and value of national wards in Nigeria. It is perhaps for these disturbing questions that some recipients have reservations about accepting the offer from government. For instance, the American-based renowned novelist and author of “Things fall Apart” rejected his award for the second time in seven years. The serving minority leader of the House of Representatives also declined to accept his own. Of course, people with integrity would naturally refuse to be associated in any form with awards which selection process and beneficiaries have credibility questions to resolve.
Over eighty percent of the 2011 National Honours recipients are serving public office holders and politicians who because of the zero level of contribution to national development do not merit their investiture; and therefore should not have made the list in the first place. The practice by which serving public office holders are given National Honours only for them to be handcuffed and prosecuted for corrupt practices soon after leaving office is not only ridiculous but equally devalues the awards. The question that readily comes to mind is; what becomes of the award when such public office holders including governors lose their immunity and become special guests in EFCC custody for reasons of corruption charges?
Dimeji Bankole was honoured with a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award in February 2008; barely nine months after he became Speaker of the House of Representatives. Today, the same Dimeji Bankole, a CFR National Awardee, is standing trial for allegations of financial crimes involving misappropriation of funds while in office. We expect members of the Nigerian National Awards Committee to know that honours are supposed to be given in recognition of services already offered, which in the objective opinion of respectable Nigerians deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated. It is therefore ridiculous when people are honoured for services that are still being rendered, which cumulative effect in the end could be a disservice to the nation.
The list of this year’s recipients indicate that some of them were rewarded for no work done in the service of this country; which again puts the criteria for earning a national honour under interrogation. Awards in some cases have similarly been given to those who in the past had corruption charges to answer. Patricia Etteh was removed as Speaker of the House of Representatives in late 2007 after she was accused of wrongfully authorizing the spending of N628 million on the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy. Yet, the same Patricia Etteh was honoured in 2010 with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award even though she also had her name on the list of awardees for Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). This particular case demonstrates how Nigerian government officially supports or sustains corrupt practices and kills integrity among Nigerians.
A situation in which ex-public officers are convicted or on bail for various offences including theft of public funds seeks to jeopardize the worth of national honours. It further makes a mockery of our collective sense of responsibility and judgment. Perhaps, it is because national honours have deviated from their basic principles and thus lost credibility that recipients sometimes even choose which category of award they should have. For example, the former Secretary to the military government of General Sani Abacha and later General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Alhaji Gidado Idris, turned down the CFR award offered him by government in 2008 because according to him, that was below the CON for which he was nominated by General Abdulsalami in 1999; but which former President Obasanjo reversed immediately he assumed office as President.
Of course, some of those on this year’s list merit their awards. However, it is the opinion of this column that there are several recipients who should not be on the list. The fact that there were no medals for some recipients when they were called out shows the shoddy nature of the entire exercise including the selection process. There is need for the Awards Committee to review the existing criteria for nomination. A process that permits holders of specific public offices to automatically qualify for awards, simply for being privileged to be such positions, does not portray national honours as achievements to be earned.
There are several ordinary Nigerians out there who deserve to be honoured but have remained on the list un-song heroes. Nigerians want to see people like the taxi driver with the Abuja Leasing Company who in 2007 returned the N18million forgotten in his cab to the owner, being honoured. We urge those charged with the task of selecting awardees to fear God in the discharge of their duties. May Allah (SWT) reward those who contribute to the growth of Nigeria as a nation and to the development of humanity accordingly, amin.
Apology:
In the Saturday November 26 edition of this newspaper, I promised on this page to remind readers of the Tasu’a and ’Ashura voluntary fasting that were to come up respectively on Saturday November 4, 2011 and Sunday November 5, 2011. I actually did as promised but that part of the column was cut out by the editor as, according to him, I exceeded the number of words required to go in to the column. I regret this and humbly appeal to readers to accept my apology.
Some 365 Nigerians (some deserving and others not so deserving) were on Tuesday November 15, 2011 given National Honours at a ceremony performed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Except for the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), all categories of awards from the Federal Republic Medal (MFR) II to Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) had recipients.
This year’s award recipients are the highest in number in the history of the annual event, which was instituted in 1964. Like in the recent past, the makeup of this year’s list raises questions that seek to challenge the essence and value of national wards in Nigeria. It is perhaps for these disturbing questions that some recipients have reservations about accepting the offer from government. For instance, the American-based renowned novelist and author of “Things fall Apart” rejected his award for the second time in seven years. The serving minority leader of the House of Representatives also declined to accept his own. Of course, people with integrity would naturally refuse to be associated in any form with awards which selection process and beneficiaries have credibility questions to resolve.
Over eighty percent of the 2011 National Honours recipients are serving public office holders and politicians who because of the zero level of contribution to national development do not merit their investiture; and therefore should not have made the list in the first place. The practice by which serving public office holders are given National Honours only for them to be handcuffed and prosecuted for corrupt practices soon after leaving office is not only ridiculous but equally devalues the awards. The question that readily comes to mind is; what becomes of the award when such public office holders including governors lose their immunity and become special guests in EFCC custody for reasons of corruption charges?
Dimeji Bankole was honoured with a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award in February 2008; barely nine months after he became Speaker of the House of Representatives. Today, the same Dimeji Bankole, a CFR National Awardee, is standing trial for allegations of financial crimes involving misappropriation of funds while in office. We expect members of the Nigerian National Awards Committee to know that honours are supposed to be given in recognition of services already offered, which in the objective opinion of respectable Nigerians deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated. It is therefore ridiculous when people are honoured for services that are still being rendered, which cumulative effect in the end could be a disservice to the nation.
The list of this year’s recipients indicate that some of them were rewarded for no work done in the service of this country; which again puts the criteria for earning a national honour under interrogation. Awards in some cases have similarly been given to those who in the past had corruption charges to answer. Patricia Etteh was removed as Speaker of the House of Representatives in late 2007 after she was accused of wrongfully authorizing the spending of N628 million on the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy. Yet, the same Patricia Etteh was honoured in 2010 with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award even though she also had her name on the list of awardees for Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). This particular case demonstrates how Nigerian government officially supports or sustains corrupt practices and kills integrity among Nigerians.
A situation in which ex-public officers are convicted or on bail for various offences including theft of public funds seeks to jeopardize the worth of national honours. It further makes a mockery of our collective sense of responsibility and judgment. Perhaps, it is because national honours have deviated from their basic principles and thus lost credibility that recipients sometimes even choose which category of award they should have. For example, the former Secretary to the military government of General Sani Abacha and later General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Alhaji Gidado Idris, turned down the CFR award offered him by government in 2008 because according to him, that was below the CON for which he was nominated by General Abdulsalami in 1999; but which former President Obasanjo reversed immediately he assumed office as President.
Of course, some of those on this year’s list merit their awards. However, it is the opinion of this column that there are several recipients who should not be on the list. The fact that there were no medals for some recipients when they were called out shows the shoddy nature of the entire exercise including the selection process. There is need for the Awards Committee to review the existing criteria for nomination. A process that permits holders of specific public offices to automatically qualify for awards, simply for being privileged to be such positions, does not portray national honours as achievements to be earned.
There are several ordinary Nigerians out there who deserve to be honoured but have remained on the list un-song heroes. Nigerians want to see people like the taxi driver with the Abuja Leasing Company who in 2007 returned the N18million forgotten in his cab to the owner, being honoured. We urge those charged with the task of selecting awardees to fear God in the discharge of their duties. May Allah (SWT) reward those who contribute to the growth of Nigeria as a nation and to the development of humanity accordingly, amin.
Apology:
In the Saturday November 26 edition of this newspaper, I promised on this page to remind readers of the Tasu’a and ’Ashura voluntary fasting that were to come up respectively on Saturday November 4, 2011 and Sunday November 5, 2011. I actually did as promised but that part of the column was cut out by the editor as, according to him, I exceeded the number of words required to go in to the column. I regret this and humbly appeal to readers to accept my apology.
