ZIK GBEMRE LAMENTS ON NIGERIAN NATIONAL MERIT AWARD CONTINUALLY BEEN DESECRATED WITH RECOGNITION, AWARD OF SOME UNDESERVING PERSONALITIES

Oftentimes, the character, background and achievement of a greater number of the recipients elicit great laughter that makes the national award practically ‘valueless’…

The national awards should be like ‘surprised packages’ that are given to those who merit it in the first place and not for anyone to apply for it to be given…

There is an urgent need for some of the Titles of the said National Awards that have ‘Niger’ to be replaced with Nigeria to make it meaningful and relevant to Nigeria and not the Niger Republic…

The Federal Government and the Governing Board in-charge of these Awards seriously need to review how these awards are selected and given…

On several occasions and in many articles, I have criticized the criteria, the rationale and the basis for Nigeria’s National Honours/Awards, which have been rendered ‘valueless’ and ‘worthless’ over the years due to the manner with which the awards are given and the importance unnecessarily given to it. This is hinged on a lot of factors which include; firstly, the award is not given or recognized as a big deal outside the shores of Nigeria. Secondly, the frequency and the huge number of recipients not only make it comical but also question the criteria and ‘significance’ of the awards. Thirdly, and most importantly, the character, background and achievement of 95% of the recipients again, elicit great laughter that makes the award practically ‘valueless’. The Nigerian National Awards have been reduced to Naira and kobo.

Concerning the part of the usual ritual events to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration, even though Nigeria does not have anything to celebrate at 62 under this Government; President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the conferment of the National Honours on some identified Nigerians, which includes the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, some serving and former public office holders. The investiture ceremony is scheduled to take place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja on Tuesday, 11th October 2022 at 9:00 am.

This is yet another demonstration of the annual ritual, that has become more of a ridicule of a supposed prestigious national honour. The National Honour award was established by the Honours Act, No 5 of 1964. The Act empowers the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to establish by a warrant, the Nigeria Order of Dignity, to honour “deserving citizens” who have contributed (consistently), to the development and progress of the country and any human field of endeavour. The Act, however, took retrospective effect from 1st October 1963 and was subsequently amended in 1979.

It, therefore, means that, for any person to be eligible/qualified for the award of National Honour in Nigeria, he or she must have maintained a consistently high moral standard, proven integrity, great repute amongst the populace and with an admirable character who has positively added value to the growth and development of the country and its citizenry. However, all these are ‘book talks’ that do not reflect the reality observed. An analysis of most of those who have been conferred, and the 437 persons that are presently going to be conferred with the National Honours award for 2022, presents a mockery of the whole exercise. One is left to wonder what has become of the integrity of the once highly-priced national honour, especially when we consider the fact that the National Awards should be given strictly to those who merit it and not just an occupier of an office in the public space.

It is not the right of public office holders at all levels, including those in the traditional institution, to be recognized and given such national awards. Why should those who have looted our collective wealth, and those who colluded with public office holders to loot, be given national awards? How many Nigerian politicians, political leaders and business people are clean today in the Nigerian public space? Who are they really, when we talk of good governance? Or exemplary public figures our children should emulate from? Are these people good examples for future generations? These are questions that we need to ask. We cannot be rewarding crooks in governments’ space, people with questionable characters in their business, and their ‘fronts’ with such national awards and recognition. What are we teaching our children when we award these sorts of persons at the national level?

However, beyond these national honours awards is the question of our craziness as a nation, for Titles, Award/Honours. The thirst for titles, honours and awards, even when the individual does not necessarily qualify for having the attributes to be given such societal recognition, has become the craziest standards we have adopted as a culture, as a norm that has made many well-respected Institutions, Corporate bodies and the Government, to sell their birthright and dignity for ephemeral benefits. What ordinarily should have been a sign of societal recognition for one’s selfless service and worthy accomplishments, has been turned into a ‘product’ that can be bought with money or given in the name of favouritism/nepotism. To the extent that the ‘value’ of such honours and awards have been rubbished and made worthless. From that of the national honours to that of Justice of Peace (JP) often given by State Governments. At the end of the day, we now have persons of questionable characters bearing national honours and JPs.

The National awards and JPs should not be used to compensate looters and public office holders. If we must fix the country aright, then it means those who give national awards must be very economical with it. This same applies to Justices of Peace (JPs) at the State levels. The traditional rulers are not left out too when conferring Titles on looters and those who front for public office holders.

The Federal Government and the Governing Board in-charge of these Awards seriously need to review how these awards are selected and given, and improve on future national awards. Let it be strictly based on one’s integrity, service to others and merit, and not based on how many titles and an exaggerated bunch of certificates/degrees, and accumulated illegal wealth are stolen from the public, which does not add value to mankind.

Again, there is an urgent need for some of the Titles of the said National Awards that have ‘NIGER’ to be replaced with NIGERIA. For instance, the Commander of the Niger (CON) should be the Commander of Nigeria.

Order of the Niger (OON) should be the Order of Nigeria. In other words, ‘NIGER’ should be removed entirely from these Awards and be replaced with NIGERIA. The REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA is not the Niger Republic. All of this should be amended as well. ORDER OF NIGER or COMMANDER OF NIGER or MEMBER OF THE NIGER (MON) – have no meaning in my opinion.

If this was what the British Colonial Masters left for Nigeria, I think we should be able to change this since Nigeria officially became a Republic in 1963. The Order of Niger is meaningless and doesn’t define the Nigerian entity as we know it today. I, therefore, recommend that the term NIGERIA should replace NIGER in all the Titles of the National Awards concerned, to make it meaningful and relevant to the entity called Nigeria.

The Federal government should be identifying sincere and patriotic Nigerians, irrespective of their tribes and religion, and give them national awards instead of the same kinds of corrupt politicians and their ‘fronts’ within the same clique of elites. The reason for the national award is defeated if the national awards are given to those who brought us to the pathetic economic level the country is in right now, which has continually made life more difficult for Nigerians.

The volume of the recipients and the character of most of them forces one to ask; is it indeed true that the over four thousand recipients of the national honours since it began in 1963, have honestly contributed to national development in various fields of endeavours? According to a social commentator, James Obi; “If it is true, how come Nigeria is greatly underdeveloped and is rated one of the poorest nations on earth albeit endowed with abundant natural resources? Could it be that the awardees are being honoured for bringing Nigeria to her present state of insecurity, lawlessness, corruption, planlessness, impunity, injustice, lack of accountability, etc? If so, why not bestow post-humus awards on Nigerians like Lawrence Anini, Oyenusi and co, who did not steal as much as our most beloved Rulers?

“It took less than 20, not 2,000 people led by Lee Kuan Yew to transform Singapore from an observed Sea Port town to one of the most developed places on earth. I am not aware if Lee Kuan had decorated himself with one silly title to earn the respect of his fellow citizens and global community before his exit from earth. I doff my hat to Chinua Achebe for rejecting the Nigerian National Honour on two occasions. He, Achebe, is known worldwide due to his literary prowess and not because of a supposed national title.”

The national awards should be like ‘surprised packages’ that are given to those who merit it in the first place, and not for them to apply for it to be given to them. If Mr. ‘A’ will be given a national award, he should not even be aware of it. With that, it will encourage patriotism amongst Nigerians. That is, if you live a sincere life, and offer sacrificial service to improve the lives of others; you can be recognized and compensated with a national award. And not with the way it is being done now.

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