[size=14pt]Nig@50 awards: Jonathan excludes Murtala, Buhari, IBB, Abacha – Daily Trust[/size]
September 29, 2010 by Bunmi Awolusi

Former heads of state Muhammadu Buhari, Ibahim Babangida and Sani Abacha have been excluded from the special Golden Jubilee independence anniversary awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians by President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan also excluded the late Head of State Murtala Ramat Muhammad in the independence anniversary awards on Nigerians and friends of the country.

A statement yesterday by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, said the 50 personalities would be honoured for their contributions to the development of the country.

Those to be awarded are: Herbert Macaulay (Lagos), Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe (Anambra), Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (Sokoto), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Ogun) , Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Bauchi), Chief Samuel Akintola (Oyo), Mallam Aminu Kano and Chief Anthony Enahoro (Edo).

Ernest Okoli (Bayelsa), Jaja Wachukwu (Abia), Dennis Osadebay (Delta), Maj-Gen J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi (Abia) Generals Yakubu Gowon (Plateau),Olusegun Obasanjo (Ogun) Abdulsalami Abubakar (Niger) and Prof. Kenneth Dike (Anambra).

Profs. Jacob Ade Ajayi (Ekiti), Ishaya Audu (Kaduna), Iya Abubakar (Adamawa), Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Anambra), Alhaji Shehu Shagari (Sokoto), Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (Kano), Joseph Tarka (Benue), Shettima Ali Monguno (Borno) and Cardinal Francis Arinze (Anambra), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq 111, Sultan of Sokoto (Sokoto) and Oba Adesoji Aderemi (Osun).

Also, Profs Wole Soyinka (Ogun), Chinua Achebe (Anambra), Alhaji Abubakar Imam (Kaduna), Alhaji Babatunde Jose (Lagos), Justices Adetokunbo Ademola (Ogun), Egbert Udo Udoma (Akwa-Ibom) Prof. Teslim Elias (Lagos), Chief Rotimi Alade Williams (Lagos), Justice Mamman Nasir (Kastina), Alhaji Alhassan Dantata (Kano), Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Kano), Chief Mike Adenuga (Ogun), Richard Ihetu aka Dick Tiger (Abia), Kanu Nwankwo (Abia) and Chioma Ajunwa (Imo).

Daniel Igali (Bayelsa), Michael Akinwunmi (Ogun), Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (Ogun), Mrs Margaret Ekpo (Cross River), Hajia Gambo Sawaba (Kaduna), Hajiya Ladi Kwali (Abuja), Princess Alexandra (Britain) and Lillian Joel Williams (Britain).

http://nigerianbulletin.com/2010/09/29/nig50-awards-jonathan-excludes-murtala-buhari-ibb-abacha-daily-trust/

Good for the bloody coup plotters.

I guess "Maj-Gen J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi (Abia) Generals Yakubu Gowon (Plateau),Olusegun Obasanjo (Ogun) Abdulsalami Abubakar (Niger)" are not coup plotters or beneficiaries. Hypocrite

fisuyi:

I guess "Maj-Gen J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi (Abia)

I agree with you except with Ironsi. The main had no choice!

Kanu no Okocha?

fisuyi:

I guess "Maj-Gen J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi (Abia) Generals Yakubu Gowon (Plateau),Olusegun Obasanjo (Ogun) Abdulsalami Abubakar (Niger)" are not coup plotters or beneficiaries. Hypocrite

[s]Abeg, leave me and my artistic impression jare! [/s]
Abeg, leave me and my artistic lisence jare!

Beaf:

Abeg, leave me and my artistic impression jare!

Mr Beaf ride on. Apologies for my last sentence though.

What is wrong with jonathan. This man done dey fall hand o.if he was excluding all military rulers he should have done so. Why is he being selective. Murtala is on the 20 naira bil yet nt ok for a jubilee award. Jona needs to play smart b4 he overheats things

The list is sancrosant.Kanu's inclusion really gladdens my heart.
But it seems Ogun and Anambra states are well represented.

What a list.

Jaja Wachuku is probably rolling in his grave looking at Ngwaland now.

Abia state is well represented!

for just excluding murtala mohammad, am having a soft spot for gej

I believe that Gani Fawehinmi should have made that list.

can't we look at this way
-abuslami- returned Nigeria to Democracy.-should be there
-Obasanjo-was a civilian President-should be there based on civilian angle
-babaginda- what annul june 12 should not be there
-Abacha-inglorious regime should not be there
-buhari- what coupist should not be there
-Mohammed-what coupist should not be there
-Gowon-leadership in Nigeria most trying times, fought for one Nigeria and Ojukwu deceit/madness-should be there
pls look beyond politics and face some reality

Keep bending history - as it suits.

Where is Gani here?

Gani should be there, Sunny ade should be there too

The list as far military dictators are concerned is ok.

My only Issue is that Ironsi should have not been on the list.He is the first coup plotter in Nigeria.

Though killed as soon as he got power.

If he made the list, then muritala should have been there.

This two are not dictators. But for the rest, they are worse than Idi Amin.

what are they awarding again? Seems GEJ only knows how to give awards. This 50th celebration should never be celebrated. People are dying everyday from lack of healthcare, no food, no light, no jobs, bad roads. And we are celebrating what exactly. All Jonathan's excesses shows the kind of president he will become. His actions are infuriating. He only likes to spend and spend, and give useless awards. He needs to sit down and do some work. He is not even strong enough to reign in his wife, who is a wild illiterate. Someone needs to show up for this presidency. Someone who is credible. I tire for this useless people. This is just disgusting

No Enugu person on that list and how come Kanu was nominated but Okocha wasn't.

chiozor:

can't we look at this way
-abuslami- returned Nigeria to Democracy.-should be there
-Obasanjo-was a civilian President-should be there based on civilian angle
-babaginda- what annul june 12 should not be there
-Abacha-inglorious regime should not be there
-buhari- what coupist should not be there
-Mohammed-what coupist should not be there
-Gowon-leadership in Nigeria most trying times, fought for one Nigeria and Ojukwu deceit/madness-should be there
pls look beyond politics and face some reality

Cant agree with you less, especially your reason for the inclusion of Gowon.

I think Obasanjo inclusion has to do with the fact that he was the 1st Military leader to return power to a civilian govt. Ditto Abdusalam being the 2nd.

Also Obasanjp was the 1st civilian president to hand over to another civilian president

jumobi1:

Kanu no Okocha?

afam4eva:

No Enugu person on that list and how come Kanu was nominated but Okocha wasn't.

Though Okocha was a more skillful player but nothing was won under his leadership compare to Kanu who was the captain of the gold winning Olympic team.

Also Kanu was African footballer of the year twice (I think), Okocha was never.

Kanu would make the list 50 times before Okocha makes it once.

Have they changed the name of the Country according to the topic. NIGIRIA

I think Jonathan should redo the list. And make it 50 each from each state of the federation.
They should include murtala and others.

It should be 50 people from each state. You can see, Daniel Igali name on it. When you look at his contribution and look at the many sons of ondo state. Igali does not merit the award before them. I can count more than 20 ondo state citizen that merit the award before Daniel Igali. I understand it is hard to pick 50 people. It would be better even for jonathan to name 50 each from each state of nigeria. If not jonathan would be in serious trouble.

Igali does not merit the award before bishop Oyedepo or pastor adeboye or pastor Kumuyi or even ayo Orisejafor. akinmobogboje, akinkugbe etc. gani fawehinmi name is not on the list. can you compare Gani contribution to Igali, No.

Nigeria would only turn 50 once , so let all this old men enjoy the works of thier effort.

Olaolufred:

The list as far military dictators are concerned is ok.

My only Issue is that Ironsi should have not been on the list.He is the first coup plotter in Nigeria.

Though killed as soon as he got power.

If he made the list, then muritala should have been there.

This two are not dictators. But for the rest, they are worse than Idi Amin.

only God knows the history teacher.

afam4eva:

No Enugu person on that list and how come Kanu was nominated but Okocha wasn't.

Okocha is a good footballer, but Kanu Nwanko symbolises much more. He has shown how a young man can overcome all odds to reach the highest pinnacle of his career; Kanu has a defective heart, but rather than give up, has gone on to inspire many.
Aside from Kanu being an icon for younger ones to look up to, he has displayed a really big heart with his heart foundation with its state of the art medical care facilities for underpriviledged youth.

The Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation is a charity organisation established by the Nigerian International and English Premier League football striker, Nwankwo Kanu (a.k.a Papilo) -MON, OON, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The foundation was established in 2000, to help underprevileged African children and young adults, living with different heart ailments in Nigeria and other African countries respectively, obtain the cardiac surgical operations needed.

http://www.kanuheartfoundationng.com/

OAM4J:

Though Okocha was a more skillful player but nothing was won under his leadership compare to Kanu who was the captain of the gold winning Olympic team.

Also Kanu was African footballer of the year twice (I think), Okocha was never.

When did awards become the criteria for receiving an award. I'm not saying that Kanu does not deserve this award but they should have included Okocha too. They are the two most popular Nigerian footballer ever.

afam4eva:

When did awards become the criteria for receiving an award. I'm not saying that Kanu does not deserve this award but they should have included Okocha too. They are the two most popular Nigerian footballer ever.

Why should Okocha be nominated? Among Nigerian footballer would he even make top 5?

Oliseh, Finidi, Yekini, Amokachi and Taribo would rank higher

The fact is Muritala was and still is good enough to be immortalized by having him on our currency, then he must be good enough for the jubilee award.

Another classical example of dumbness of Jonat-hen.

Why Princess Alexandra  . . because she represented the Queen or opens the first independent Nigerian Federal Parliament in Lagos ? I don't get it at all . . where is Gani . . where is MKO that symbolsizes much and died in the struggle

dayokanu:

Why should Okocha be nominated? Among Nigerian footballer would he even make top 5?

Oliseh, Finidi, Yekini, Amokachi and Taribo would rank higher

What are you talking about . . are you just trying to pick an argument or what?

dayokanu:

Why should Okocha be nominated? Among Nigerian footballer would he even make top 5?

Oliseh, Finidi, Yekini, Amokachi and Taribo would rank higher

Apart fro finidi here why would others rank higher.