₦airaland Forum

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government’s practice of conferring national honours on politicians.

Obi, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of The Chronicles of a Legend, a biography of business mogul and philanthropist, Gabriel Igbinedion, called for a reform in how the prestigious national awards are bestowed.

He said, “The Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, should be for entrepreneurs and productive people, not politicians.

“We have to change the way we honour people.”

The former Governor of Anambra State praised Igbinedion’s contributions to aviation, education, and the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, insisting that achievers like him deserve more celebration and recognition from the nation.

He said, “We live in a country where we celebrate people who are supposed not to be celebrated. If we did, the celebration we are giving him today would have been more.”

Highlighting Igbinedion’s legacy as a major employer of labour, Obi said, “If we had been a country that was productive, over 20 million Nigerians would have been employed because Igbinedion employed over 17,000 Nigerians.”

Obi’s remarks come amid public debate over the recent conferral of national honours and cash and house gifts to the Super Falcons following their victory at the African Cup of Nations.

Many Nigerians have argued for equal recognition of individuals contributing to education, health, and national security.

In July, President Bola Tinubu conferred national awards on several Nigerians, both living and deceased, for their roles in the country’s development—a move that drew mixed reactions across the country.

Softmirror:
I don taya for this noisemaker. Who else is tired lol. 😁

Softmirror:
I don taya for this noisemaker. Who else is tired lol. 😁

madridguy:
Obi just slamming everywhere to remain in the media till election period.

helinues:
He don become basketballer hence always slamming.

Meanwhile, I have issue with Kenneth Okonkwo. Considering the way Peter Obi has been cracking jokes all in the name of attacking the government, with his acting up, he should have joined Nollywood long time

madridguy:
I tire for the man jare. Just going around making noise up and down.

fuckingAyaya:
Imagine conferring Akpabio with the office of GCON? Someone that looted state treasury dried abi na NDDC treasury. No country can survive the level of corruption going on in this country. No country!

helinues:
Only if you can show us the comments you made to raise thi particular issue you raised above about Akpabio when he was still in Pdp.

Only if...

Softmirror:
I don taya for this noisemaker. Who else is tired lol. 😁

fuckingAyaya:
you think I support corrupt individuals or affiliated with any party? The people are suffering and crying while the wicked politicians don't care because they know they have people like you, Reno and Bwala who will defend them. Hope you watched a video of 3 little boys being flogged mercilessly by terrorists asking them to raise 50million , how will they get ransom of 50million? The other day in benue 200 humans were slaughtered and we have moved on like it nothing, who knows where they will strike next? Everybody go get sense las Las but for now let's look and clap for them.

bigpicture001:
Go and check list of Nobel prize winners, hardly will u see a politician,... They even went ahead to create a category for non professionals.....i.e Nobel price for peace

Malala, atomic weapons solvent teams, freedom fighters in Iran, Belarus, Obama won cuz he forced isreal to give back Gaza to Palestine...

If na naija..only politicians will get it...OBJ gave good deserving award to t.b Joshua....

Tinubu is about only politicians...

One thing I like about obi, he goes to point out govt.floors..another thing I like about tinubu is that he listens, even though his attack dogs shot down obi, tinubu himself listens....

Elusive001:
When Peter Obi talks, Tinubu listens and takes notes.

bigpicture001:
Go and check list of Nobel prize winners, hardly will u see a politician,... They even went ahead to create a category for non professionals.....i.e Nobel price for peace

Malala, atomic weapons solvent teams, freedom fighters in Iran, Belarus, Obama won cuz he forced isreal to give back Gaza to Palestine...

If na naija..only politicians will get it...OBJ gave good deserving award to t.b Joshua....

Tinubu is about only politicians...

One thing I like about obi, he goes to point out govt.floors..another thing I like about tinubu is that he listens, even though his attack dogs shot down obi, tinubu himself listens....

Softmirror:
I don taya for this noisemaker. Who else is tired lol. 😁