This year’s national honor has stirred serious controversy in the media space as one of the honorees, and a musician, Teniola Apata displayed a ruffian attitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who deemed it fit to honor her talent and strides in the music industry.

Like many other Nigerian personalities who received the award with humility, Teni received hers with pride through her display of I don’t care attitude. Her embarrassing gesture was displayed in her majestic steps to the podium. She wore that garment of pride as she was called upon. Her attitude shows she has already concluded on how she would receive the award.

Of course, Teni’s attitude could be justified by the way and manner the current administration is handling the governance. It is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that the country is in disarray but on the other hand, a clear rejection of the honor would have buried Teni’s rudeness in a shallow grave. She would have earned more accolades to have rejected national honor in protest against insecurity, and economic hardship among other outrageous, rapacious revelations of pangs and pains hitting Nigerians so hard.

Unarguably, nothing can justify Teni’s display at the event with her presence. With all sincerity of purpose, the President deserves respect in all ramifications. Irrespective of the occupier, that office must be respected.

There are differences between governance and personality. President Buhari’s system of government should not be muddled up with his personality as a former head of state, as a sitting president, as an elderly man, as a father, grandfather, and as an elder statesman. Putting all these into consideration, Teni has no right to be disrespectful irrespective of her status. Her resentment was obviously captured. Anyone defending her in this regard can practically do the same to his/her father on dissent opinions.

There were great women with high profiles at the event. They all took a bow and shook the President; this doesn’t mean they were happy with the current situation of the country but they gave honor to whom honor is to be given. Why should Teni’s case be different, she is not in any way bigger than other recipients.

The initiative for the National Honours was instituted by Act No. 5 of 1964 which empowers the President to honor Nigerians and friends of the country with remarkable feats every year and the entertainers were honored for distinguishing themselves in the service honor of the nation and humanity.

But Teni has passed a message to the Presidency which should be taken into consideration. The criteria for selecting honorees should be revised. Not everyone is honorable. Her attitude is a mess to the National Honour as respect is reciprocal.

Aside from Teniola Apata, simply known as Teni who was awarded Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by President Buhari, grammy-award-winning singer, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy was also conferred with Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) honor.

Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal aka KWAM 1 was equally conferred with the rank of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by President Buhari.

Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2Baba also received the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award from the President.

Actor and President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas Ejezie, was awarded national honors in the rank of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

Media personality and entrepreneur Mo Abudu received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) honor.

Congratulations to all the honorees including Teniola Apata.

God Bless Nigerians!