The commemoration of Nigeria’s democracy day (2025) was specially marked with the conferment of National Honours on some prominent Nigerians who were at the forefront of the fierce struggle for the actualization of the mandate of late Bashorun MKO Abiola (GCFR), who popularly won the June 12 1993 presidential election.
The Nigerian National Honours Award was established by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964. The Act empowers the President and C-in-C of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to establish by warrant, the Nigeria Order of Dignity, to honour deserving citizens, who have contributed significantly to the development and progress of the country in various fields of human endeavours. The Act, however, took retrospective effect from October 1, 1963; and it was subsequently amended in 1979. Therefore, for any person to be eligible for the award of the National Honour, he or she must have maintained a consistently high moral standard, proven integrity and impeccable character.
In addition, a person conferred with the honour is expected to serve as a role model and source of inspiration to others. At the same time, awardees that are convicted of any criminal offence are expected to be stripped of the honour conferred on them. Therefore, it will be greatly applauded if the present administration can take the bold step to set the pace, by stripping those who have abused the honours conferred on them.
In essence, it will be most appropriate for the investiture ceremony of the National Honours to be lined-up as part of activities marking the commemoration of Nigeria’s independence anniversary, going by the choice of October 1 as the effective date for the National Honours Act. This will make the honour to be more meaningful and impactful. The only time the National Honours Award investiture ceremony was held in the month of October, since the inception of the fourth republic was the only and last edition, held by the immediate past administration on 11th October, 2022.
The bold decision of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), President and C-in-C, to confer National Honours on some heroes and heroines of June 12 democratic struggle is warmly saluted. However, some prominent names like Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.), Olisa Agbakoba, Ayo Opadokun, Admiral Tunde Elegbede, Air Commodore Dan Sulaiman, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), John Odigie-Oyegun, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Adeniji Adele, Dele Momodu, Babafemi Ojodu, and about 40 others, including Kola Abiola, were inadvertently omitted in Mr. President’s Democracy Day address. Also, there were hundreds of “unknown soldiers” who were equally victimised, whilst others, like Deji Aliyu, paid the supreme price, during the struggle. These unsung heroes of the struggle also deserved to be at least, acknowledged. Without mincing words, our historical records are already in jeopardy, as political event of 1993, which is just three decades ago, could not be properly captured.
I hereby make bold, to state that it is high time the National Assembly set the ball in motion, to amend the National Honours Act in its entirety; and ensuring that names of nominees and prospective awardees are published, for public information and criticism, in the spirit of democracy and responsive governance. Doing this will go a long way to restore lost public confidence, as far as the National Honour is concerned.
At the same time, it has become very disheartening that none of the holders of the prestigious National Honours, who are responsible for Nigeria’s present socio-political and economic woes has never been stripped of the honour conferred on them, to serve as detriment to others. Moreover, the tradition of conferring automatic honours on public office-holders, mainly because of the position they hold in government, needs to be stopped; as most of these “accidental beneficiaries” of the honours end up being removed unceremoniously from their respective offices, for massive corruption and breach of public trust. In this regard, only the most outstanding public office-holders, who must have served conscientiously, meritoriously and patriotically, needs to be selected for the honours, after leaving office. It has also become a convention for Nigeria’s Vice-President and Chief Justice, to be automatically conferred with the rank of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), immediately they are sworn into office. But Senate Presidents are not conferred instantly.
On the other hand, Speakers of the Federal House of Representatives were in the past, conferred with the rank of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), until last year, when the leadership of the House rejected the rank of CFR earlier conferred on Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, by Mr. President, as part of events lined-up for the commemoration of Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary. Thus, Mr. President eventually conferred the rank of GCON on the Speaker. Thereby, placing him at par with the Senate President. In the same vein, both the Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker (HoR), were also conferred with the rank of CFR, respectively. Whereas, the lowest rank of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) was previously conferred on a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, late Rt. Hon. Benjamin Chaha. Without doubt, this was a clear error of judgement, which equally needs to be corrected and upgraded posthumously by the present government; at least, for record purposes on the basis of equity, fair play, justice and democratic values. It is unarguably that “when equals are treated unequally; or when unequals are treated equally, there’s injustice.” In this regard, the honours will be highly valued, if the federal government stops using the National Honours for political patronage, which has been another way of abusing the award.
As minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (CFR), the immediate past Speaker and now incumbent CoS to the President, moved a motion for the amendment of the National Honours Act in 2011. But the bill didn’t sail through and it seemed to have since been set aside.
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Therefore, it is high time for the National Assembly to review the National Honours Act for overall national interest in order to fully restore the prestige of the honours. It is equally very apt to mention that the call for nominations for the 2024 National Honours, since last year has lingered for too long. So, it is now expected that the federal government will fast track the process, to release the names of prospective awardees for investiture, without further delay.
Comrade Ganiyu Abdullahi is a concerned patriot (08055048925)
