Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has faulted the practice of bestowing national honours on politicians.
Obi spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Chronicles of a Legend, a biography of Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin.
The former Anambra governor added that that the country needs to rethink how its highest national awards are given to individuals.
Obi also said achievers who create opportunities and expand industries ought to be celebrated more than they currently are.
“The Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) should be given to entrepreneurs and productive citizens, not us, the politicians,” Obi said.
“We live in a country where we celebrate the wrong people. If we honoured those truly deserving, today’s celebration would have been much greater.
“If we had been a productive country, over 20 million Nigerians would have been employed because Igbinedion alone employed more than 17,000 people.”
Obi also celebrated Igbinedion for his pioneering role in aviation, education and cultural preservation, describing him as a figure who deserves greater recognition from the country.
He also pledged to support the endowment fund in Igbinedion’s name annually for the next 10 years.
His remarks follows public debate on the federal government’s decision to confer national honours and gifts on the Super Falcons following their victory at the African Cup of Nations.
