In 1964, a certain Frenchman and celebrated writer, Jean-Paul Sartre, surprisingly rejected the highest secularly recognised and most sought after award of Nobel Prize in Literature.His reason remains personal. Ordinarily, the willingness to accept or reject an honour or any other gift for that matter is basically at the discretion and conviction of the recipient or beneficiary. However, the loads of controversy over the nomination, conferment, and high-profile rejection that trailed the Nigerian national honour awards 2011 which climaxed recently amidst pomp and pageantry in Abuja have degenerated into a distasteful proportion. Expectedly, this collective embarrassment has become a major cause of concern to many Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan inclusive.Indeed, many Nigerians will most likely remember the 2011 national honours and awards ceremony not for the over 360 awardees, but sadly, for the rejection of such honours by two eminent Nigerians: Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and Professor Chinua Achebe. Although running the risk of being accused of trying to cast aspersion on the National Awards and Honours Committee (NAHC) under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Alfa Belgore (rtd), I think such rejections made a mockery of the whole show, perhaps in the same league with the laughable purported shortage of medals and honours' certificates as reported in some national dailies. Hence, saying that the modalities and processes involved in such a national ceremony of repute need a re-assessment, is of course to say the obvious.It sounds interesting to realise that celebrated literary giant and world- acclaimed Nigerian novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe's rejection of the national award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), for the second time in four years, is linked to what the 'Things Fall Apart' exponent explained thus 'The reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed, let alone solved'. The reasons are of course the problematic and perilous political situation in Nigeria. Notwithstanding, of a more particular interest, largely to me, is the same stance earlier taken by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, though on a different ground in turning down the national award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in an open letter to the Presidency in which he asserts 'Mr President, year-in year-out, we have had many rotten eggs on our honours list. This has reduced what otherwise was a well-intended and noble idea to a national joke'. It would be recalled that Gbajabiamila, two years ago, authored and sponsored a bill (the National Honours Amendment Bill) as a member of the sixth National Assembly, purposely to examine the modus operandi of the national honours which originally came into being in 1963, and later backed with the National Honours Act of 1964. Basically, the argument of Gbajabiamila is rooted in the contamination of the honours selection criteria which has become shredded in mystery overtime if one takes an insightful glance at some of the names on such list which unfortunately reveals an apparent polluting effect of political manoeuvring, stout favouritism, celebrated mediocrity, utter dearth of initiative; all canned under the gamut of so-called national awards.Going down memory lane, in December 2008, Nobel Laureate and global literary icon, Professor Wole Soyinka chose to reject his national award's monetary incentive while in scathing sarcasm labelled late President Umaru Yar'Adua as being 'a beneficiary of stolen goods'. This is in direct reference to the kangaroo general election that ushered Yar'Adua into Aso Rock in April of that year. Similarly, renowned legal luminary and human rights activist, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), in 2008, rejected the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) national award basically in protest to the many years of misrule since Nigeria's independence saying he cannot accept honours from a government which according to him, 'does not have the honour to dispense honour'. Furthermore, former military Head of State and ardent opposition leader, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) sensationally turned down a national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) in 2003 during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's reign, though not in protest, but however, on the ground that he had been awarded the same honour before some years back.In climes where sanity reigns supreme, selfless service to humanity, dedication and commitment to societal emancipation, excellent contributions to national development, are among others, the paramount yardsticks for rewarding a citizen deemed worthy of emulation to other countrymen and women. If this is presumably so in Nigeria, then somebody will need to come up with explanations on why Nigeria's military chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police were worthy recipients of such prestigious national awards in the midst of never-seen before national insecurity which is threatening the foundation of the country, or more funnily, why are some members of the House of Representatives' hands-up-in-arm in clamouring that the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal ought to have been conferred with the more exalted GCFR instead of the CFR given him, even as the immediate former Speaker , Mr. Dimeji Bankole conferred with the same CFR, is presently ensnared in financial impropriety litigations'Without mincing words, the processes of nomination, selection, and conferment of national honours have been bastardised; hence my resolve in suggesting that Gbajabiamila's stance on having a holistic re-evaluation of the programme, at least on moral ground, should be overriding at this juncture. Perchance, I will also strongly recommend a suspension of the occasion for time being, while we strive to get it right eventually. Afterall, it was suspended in the country's darkest days of military rule (1984-1999), if only that will save the country from the continuing charade termed national honours.
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