Withdraw national honours from treasury looters, they are for people of integrity, he says
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
National honours are meant for people of integrity and should be withdrawn from those who have looted the treasury dry, and done so with glee, former President Goodluck Jonathan has told his successor Muhammadu Buhari.
He demanded the withdrawal of national honours from those with questionable character, saying such awards are to recognise worthy citizens.
“Talking about awards, I want to say, probably, when we are making laws, at the federal level, there should be an amendment empowering the President or the Governors to strike off such honours,” Jonathan said in Abakaliki.
He was speaking at the maiden Ebonyi State Honours Award where he was conferred with the Grand Commander, Ebonyi Hall of Fame (GCEHF), which he said would strengthen the agelong bond between Bayelsa and Ebonyi.
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Abacha among other honourees
More than 300 prominent Nigerians from across the country were also honoured, including the late Sani Abacha who was given a posthumous GCEHF for creating Ebonyi State in October 1996, according to reporting by The Nation.
Other honourees included presidential Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, former Ekiti Governors Ayo Fyose and Kayode Fayemi, and former Governor of Abia Theodore Orji.
They also included former Ebonyi Governors Martin Elechi and Sam Egwu, and Ebony’s first Military Administrator Walter Feghabor.
Buhari, who spoke through Gambari, congratulated Umahi for his feats in political leadership, saying his policies align with the three pillars of the federal administration – Economy, Security, and Anti-corruption.
He commended Umahi for his commitment to security in the South East, unprecedented infrastructure and agricultural policies which make Ebonyi one of the largest producers of rice in the country.