National Awards: Loss of a noble cause

Having taken my apple time to read many prolific writers from all parts of Nigeria over the recent awards given to 355 Nigerians which many political office holders were recipients and others , it indicated that the Federal Government has lost its noble cause of the exercise.It is saddening that political leaders whose track records are nothing to write home about were compensated with the awards. Since 1963 when the National Award was created to honour eminent Nigerians who had creditably done well in their chosen endeavours, many thought the idea would make many Nigerians to take their careers seriously in all ramifications. Most of these awardees did not merit it but were politically compensated for the last April elections. For Professor Chinua Achebe to reject the National Award for the second time which he personally highlighted some political challenges facing the country, yet the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan did not see it as a yardstick to revamp the entire system but rather went on to honour some questionable characters called leaders. The country is in dire need of security of lives and property while National Awards has become the priority of the sitting President. It is a shame that the just-concluded National Awards ceremony was short of medals which invariably signaled to Nigerians that the committee was ill-equipped and ill-prepared for the event. The literary icon met well for Nigerians to restore the glory of the country. Over 40 percent of Nigerians have been bestowed with National Awards with no justification for same. Though the National Awards are meant to be used to honour faithful and accomplished Nigerians in various fields, the process of selection is archaic while the Committee's recommendation is biased. The process is at the mercy of God which shows that the real deserving Nigerians are yet to be identified. The country no longer promotes excellence but mediocrity and this is why it is only those in political offices that are largely honoured. It is not a crime to honour great Nigerians that are extremely doing well in their careers but the right people need to be honoured with the awards and not the wrong people. It is time for Jonathan to overhaul the screening committee and let the right people be given the awards. 'OdidiI . public affairs commentator wrote in from 20 0ro Street Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos.
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