National Awards: Exclusion of Saraki among the nominees is a low thought

AbdulSalam Oniyere
As a young and budding media player, I came across a News sometimes last week which comprises of Political stakeholders, Officer and ex office holders, traditional rulers, musicians, business men and women, Scholars, clerics and other prominent personalities across the country to be
Confered National Award by the Mr President, Buhari. The program which has been slated for 11th of October 2022 in Abuja.
As a student of History that truly understand the concept of power and authority, with which each is to be useful accordingly and not as one wishes to manipulate it because there rules and regulations that serve as a guiding principle. The exclusion of the immediate former Senate President, Bukola Saraki is confirmation to the fact how President Buhari has gone so low in treating the issue of responsibility to his office and hatred for certain individuals for the reason best known to him.
Honour, homage, reverence, deference mean respect and esteem shown to another especially when such a person has passed through office that eligible him or her to qualify. President Buhari is about to lay a bad precedent in the name of his personal reservations and hatred for Bukola Saraki.
Interestingly, His Excellency Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki CON’s utmost importance, he is not desperate and not in hurry to be conferred with national honor, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). but shouldn’t be excluded as long as Nigeria remains a country other former Senate Presidents by tradition had been comfered by the similar award. What could have made President Muhammadu Buhari to go so low like this?
For the fact that, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, CJN, service chiefs, Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohammed made the list, why Senator Bukola Saraki’s Name omitted? He also should be included and as also said by A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome and Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher while speaking with Tribune;
“A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, recently spoke on the development and urged Buhari to make right his obvious mistake before the date of the event. Ozekhome explained thus: “By protocols and convention, Vice President and Senate President are usually conferred with the national honour of GCON. I want to believe that the president’s attention was not drawn to it. He can still amend the situation by including Saraki’s name before the date of the award because this is beyond politics.”
“Also, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, who believed Saraki deserved the award on merit, said, “I believe that in keeping with the hallowed tradition in the conferment of the honourable awards, all former senate presidents deserve the title of GCON, Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki inclusive.”
According to sources, Saraki’s case was a major debate among the committees, as some members reminded them of the importance of not jettisoning convention, but a few other “powerful members” were said to have brushed it aside and insisted he should be excluded, with the intention that the decision would please the president.
And, to THISDAY source, this year’s nomination process was jointly handled by the Justice Sidi Bage Committee, and the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, headed by Senator George Akume, a former governor and senator expected to know better.
However, been handled by group of people or a particular person doesn’t proffer to jettison of Ex Senate president if there’s non any inner cacus called powerful person are behind the scene. But, I still don’t believe that the president’s attention was not drawn to it. He can still amend the situation by including his name before the date of the award because this is beyond politics and can mehem elsewhere.
In any ramification, His Excellency Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki deserves it and with or without nomination since this GCFR of a thing is strictly for Ex Senate President which He’s. National honour is in-view and will not be received posthumously when the time comes if eventually His name is finally Excluded.
We are not amazed that Rubber stamp 9th National Assembly Chairman Ahmad Lawal came first before the Rayan Kasar Nupe of Nupe Land, Waziri N’geri of Ilorin and the best trending politicians in Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Chairman 8th National Assembly that was rated by local and international parliamentary observers as best in the history of legislature.
From this side, I call on Ilorin Emirate Developement Progresive Union (IEDPU) to stand against discrimination and exclusion of Saraki’s in the National Award nominees so that it won’t end as University of Ilorin VCship. Moreso, we have Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock to fight for Saraki’s inclusion, he’s not there to seat alone and be looking till the downfall of Ilorin Emirate. Saraki is deserves this award being the immediate former Senate President with landmark achievements.
Saraki should be included and appreciated for his well contributions he has made.
Oniyere, writes from Ilorin