AY in a now-viral post claimed a national honour is given to recognise Nigerians for their contributions to nation-building
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ace comedian and comic actor, Ayodeji Makun, better known as AY has justified his decision to accept a national award from the Buhari-led administration.
As part of the inauguration ceremony of Nigeria’s new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a total of 339 persons were awarded national honours by the federal government.
Some of the recipients of the awards were notable Nigerian celebrities and entertainers such as Davido, Victor Osimhen, Kunle Afolayan and others.
Reacting to the development, Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, took to social media to call out the artistes for accepting national awards despite criticising the Buhari administration.
“Half of the people criticising this government as the worst thing ever deh go collect award for Abuja from the same government?” Kuti had written in a mixture of pidgin and English.
“No one will reject it on principle? Or Buhari don legit? Make una just tell me o. I dey ask for one presidential candidate like that. Next 3 ½ years now we start the same dance again. What do you stand for?”
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After his post made the rounds online, a lot of Nigerians took to the comment section and agreed with the singer.
However, even though Seun didn’t mention any name, AY, via a social media post, said those asking him to reject the award are “clearly missing a vital point”.
The actor, who was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), argued that Nigeria is bigger than the president or the political party giving the award.
“Those of you shaming or asking me to reject ‘A National Honour’ are clearly missing a vital point. Our country is bigger and more important than any president or political party awarding it,” he wrote.
He went on to claim a national honour is given to recognise Nigerians for their contributions to nation-building.
