The name of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos is missing on the national honour list this year again.
For a list that has absorbed comedians,businesmen and
politicians,Nigerians keep wondering why must the name of a man
perceived to be one of the best governors in nigeria still be missing on
the national honour list.
Those who spoke to us
question the rationale behind the national awards if those considered
as ripe for it are not given their due respect. Fashola, a lawyer and
senior advocate of Nigeria (An equivalent of the Queens Cousel in
Britain) is a member of Action Congress of Nigeria the main opposition
party in Nigeria.
Except Jonathan want to tell us that there is politics behind these
national honour, if not why is Fashola’s name excluded. Even Aki and
Paw, I mean Aki and Paw those comedians in nollywood movies have been
honoured. What happened
to Fahola?” a retired banker asked rhetorically
while speaking to our reporter.
Chukwudi Oka differs an architect differs. He said “Sarah Adebisi
Sosan a former deputy governor of Lagos state is on the list. She is a
member of ACN. So why the controversy about Fashola’s name not on the
list. They know what they are doing” He said”. Not all governors have been
honoured, so why the fuss?” Oka added
Federal Government has named Adenuga, Justice Mrs Peter Odili, Teco Benson and 146 others as those who will receive the national honour this year.
One of the nation’s
foremost entrepreneurs and the Chairman of Globacom Nigeria Limited,
Chief Mike Adenuga, has topped the list of Nigerians and friends of the
country to be honoured with this year’s National
Honours Award.
Adenuga, whose company
pioneered per second billing in the telecommunications industry, will
be conferred with the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger
(GCON) on September 17 when President Goodluck
Jonathan is expected to decorate him and 148 other recipients of the
awards.
He will be the second
Nigerian outside government officials, after the Chairman of Dangote
Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to be conferred with the
nation’s second highest national honour.