Reuben Abati, the spokesperson for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is defending the Presidency’s decision for centenary award given to Late Sani Abachi.
At the award celebration held last week,
the award was given to his widow Mariam. As we all know, this honour
sparked a lot of controversy, with Wole Soyinka declining to accept the award alongside the former head of states and dictator.
Abati clearly stated to Punch Newspaper that the award, is in no way a glorification of corrupt practices.
“This (award) does not in any means translate to supporting sharp practices or corrupt practices. It is important to make the clear distinction in this regard.
“This (award) does not in any means translate to supporting sharp practices or corrupt practices. It is important to make the clear distinction in this regard.
I think it is important to make the
necessary distinction here. The centenary award, like every award, has
its own criteria. That centenary award was in relation to the
amalgamation, the national unity, the history of Nigeria and the roles
played by certain individuals.
The centenary award was not a test of
sainthood. In giving the award to the former Head of State, Gen. Abacha,
the committee in charge made it very clear that the award in the
category in which the former Head of State appeared was awarded with
regard to the contributions of those individuals in keeping Nigeria
together.
You will find out that under that
category, there were largely former Heads of State, persons who have at
one time or the other presided over Nigeria and under whose watch, in
spite of whatever challenges they might have faced, helped to sustain
the unity of the country and helped to defend the integrity and
sovereignty of the country. That was a specific criterion in this
particular category. Of course, every award at all, be it for beauty or
any other thing has its own criteria.”
Abacha was honoured during the nation’s
centenary award last Friday under the category of “outstanding promoters
of unity, patriotism and national development.” he said.
He also explained that the reason for
his nomination was that “he took over power when the nation was on the
brink of precipice. He mobilised the nation’s most prominent political
class into his cabinet and succeeded in ensuring the continued unity of
the nation. He also raised Nigeria’s international standing for his
peace keeping military interventions in Sierra Leone and Liberia.”
Comments