National awards and its lack of integrity

The National Honours award was established by National Honour Act No 5 of 1964 which took retrospective effect from 1 October 1963, and empowers the President to honour deserving citizens. Since 1963 a total of 4,426 merit awards have been given to deserving and undeserving citizens in Nigeria that President Jonathan contributed 979 to the sum, representing about 23 percent. In contrast, the United States has awarded less than ,3000 of the equivalent of the country's National honours, even with a population twice of Nigeria's and longer history of the scheme. Time without number the awards have come under destructive criticisms in recent past years by avid watchers of the political terrain. Many of the awardees have been questioned yet the government fails to take corrections rather beckon on the committee of this award and nothing else. In the course of honouring some credible and reliable Nigerians with proven tract records but refused to the so-called celebrated honours in recent past years. The literary icon , Prof Chinua Achebe twice rejected the national honours in 2004 and 2011 respectively while the legal luminary and human rights activist late Chief Gani Fawehinmi also turned down the offer in 2008 and so did former Minority leader of the House of Representatives Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila in 2011 did the same. Even the literary icon, Prof Wole Soyinka did turn down the offer. These are Nigerians who have enviably contributed immensely for the betterment of poor masses that was the masses awarded the late Gani as the Senior Advocate of Masses (SAM) before the Judiciary board finally crown him with Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) after many years of denial of trust and creditability. The fact remains that rightful people are not honoured rather than people with questionable characters and pedigrees who have milked out Nigeria's resources without considering the poor masses. Meanwhile, Many of the recent recipients have been enmeshed in one scandal or the other and some of these so-called people have been convicted recipients include former Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) Chieftain, Chief Olabode George, Former inspector- General of Police, Tafa Balogun and former Chief executive of Oceanic Bank (Now acquired by ECO bank) Mrs Cecilia Ibru, Another recipient, who is standing trial for corruption charges, former Chief Executive of Intercontinental bank( Now merged with Access bank) Mr Eratus Akingbloa, is yet to be convicted. Even the recent Subsidy probe scandal, Chief Femi otedola was similarly included last Year by President Jonathan. Late year, President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote was conferred with the award of Grand Commander of the Niger(GCON) which award is usually given to the Vice-President of the country and this year the same award that received high profile criticisms from Nigerians which was heralded in both the electronic and print media also bestowed (GCON) on Dr Mike Adenuga, Chairman of Globacom Limited again which indicated the national award no longer have values for integrity. It sad that only political thieves and public office holders are great beneficiaries of the national award.President Jonathan has increased the total numbers of awardees from149 to 155. Though the enormous performance of the Paralympics and falconets motivated President Jonathan to add some athletes to it. It was a deserved honours for out great sports men and women which many were physically-challenged ones that never disillusioned us in 2012 London Olympics. The National award is attached with pecuniary gains the selection process is being entwined with high profile corruption by this indisputable committee. Lastly, the purpose of setting up the national award has been totally defeated which only few wealthy Nigerians are selected among the yearly awardees and nothing else. The sad news is that only those at the top positions in government are honoured while some Nigerians are secretly doing well in chosen professions including ministers of God. The likes of Babatunde Fashola, Agatha Amata, Prof Pat Utomi, Roseline Izeghe, Presidor Ghomorai, Pastor Patrick Ike, Eric Agbe, Otunba Engr Isaac Emiyede, Zakka Bala, Darlington Agumuo, Engr Solomon Okpithe be worthy of these merit awards than the crooks listed so far. This national award has failed to address salient issues plaguing the entire political process in recent times. It is dawn on Nigerians that some of those given high national awards were part and parcel of people that supported the 2011 presidential election that brought Jonathan to power and other way round they must be remunerated at all costs. The committee that involves in the selection process must be reviewed and overhauled to know the real Nigerians that are putting smiles on poor Nigerians. Mindset Media limited and Mandate Newspaper has helped to identify ordinary Nigerians that are enviable doing well in their careers by bestowing them with awards in the last one year.