Former Nigeria senate president, Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s name is missing in the list of national honours awards call taking presently taking place in Abuja.
The former Governor of Kwara state who holds the Commander Order of the Niger(CON) is missing in the award which contains the list of Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN); Tanko Muhammad, former CJN; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); and Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations — are nominated for grand commander of the order of the Niger (GCON).
Saraki, who was once the third higher ranking citizen of the country, is customarily believed to be qualified for the award of the Grand Commander Order of the Niger(GCON), the second highest honour in the land.
While no reason has been given for the absence of Saraki’s name from the list, many believe that it may not be unconnected to the ‘cat and mouse game’ that characterised his time as the Senate president and President Muhammadu Buhari during the latter’s first tenure.
The Informant247 recalls that amid the crisis that plagued the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time, Saraki became Senate President in June 2015, but not without the attendant drama that enveloped his emergence and a constant battle for loyalists to help fulfill his ambition.
His time in the hallowed chambers also saw him having to deal with the charges revolving around false asset declaration by the Code of Conduct Bureau; thus the occasional battle to prove his innocence which eventually had him being discharged and acquitted by the Supreme court.
Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. They were instituted by the National Honors Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Nigerian Republic, to honour Nigerians who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation.
These honours are distinct from the honours that are part of the country’s ancient chieftaincy system, which is a separate (but also legally defined) entity. National Honours are the highest honours or awards that a citizen can receive from his or her country for service to the country.
Six distinguished personalities were presented with the award of the GCON award on Tuesday. They includes, the Senate President; Ahmed Lawan, Director General of WTO; Okonjo Iweala; Deputy General Secretary of the United Nations; Amina Mohammed, An accomplished diplomat and Permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations; Professor Tijani Bande and the Former and Current Chief Justice of Nigeria; Justice Mohammed Tanko and Justice Kayode Ariwoola respectively.