SEVERAL Nigerians were recently honoured with the National Awards by President Goodluck Jonathan, but not without some controversy over those who were deserving and those who were not. The government had to defend the second highest national honour of GCON given to industrialist/philanthropist, Mr. Aliko Dangote, which some critics say is underserved; while also lamenting the rejection of the honour bestowed on distinguished author of multiple award-winning novel, Things Fall Apart, Prof. Chinua Achebe.Each year, the privileges committee recommends names of awardees to the President who then takes a decision in consultation with the National Council of States. But in recent times, controversy always trailed the awards, often involving the merit or otherwise of the honours given to certain individuals. A lot of shady characters have benefitted from this rare honour in the past. So, the fears are not unfounded.This year, apart from alleged shortage of medals, a national embarrassment in itself, even the usually reticent The Guardian newspaper carried a front paper news critique alongside its coverage of the award presentation in its Tuesday, November 15 2011 edition. The paper noted rightly that some great sportsmen like national team footballers Dejo Fayemi, 76, (no relation of Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi), Olu Onagoruwa (not to be confused with former Attorney-General, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa), and Idowu Otubusin, who served the nation honourably, have been ignored by successive governments when heroes were being recognised.It will be recalled that Fayemi and Onagoruwa both played for the first national football team, The Red Devils, which has metamorphosed into the Green Eagles. Otubusin played for the team now known as 3SC, and was capped several times for the national team. These men, celebrated in their hey days as heroes of Nigerian soccer, are today languishing in obscurity and poverty, while some corrupt elements with connections in Abuja, walk away each year with national honours.It was sweet relief, therefore, when Rev Chris Okotie's Church, The Household of God, Oregun, Lagos, gave this year's KARIS Award, to legendary Green Eagles goal keeper, Emmanuel Okala. The KARIS Award instituted in 1994 is subsumed in the church's GRACE programme, which was launched in 1990 as an annual charity event. KARIS fills the gap created by the National Honours Award in this circumstance and we give kudos to Rev Okotie for this great service to the nation.Over the years, the KARIS Award, which now carries a cash prize of one million naira, up from 500, 000 naira, has been given to forgotten heroes like Aminu Kano (2004), Isaac Adaku Boko (2005), Boxing champion, Hogan 'Kid' Bassey (1999), Boxing great, Dele Jonathan, designer of the national flag, Taiwo Akinwunmi (1998), women activists, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Margaret Ekpo, retired police boss, DIG Chris Omeben, famous for his exemplary honesty and leadership, and many more.Likewise, during the colourful GRACE night which attracts movers and shakers of society, four charities have traditionally been given half a million naira donation, up from N250, 000 naira, since 1990. They are Sunshine Foundation, Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Little Saints Orphanage, the Spinal Cord Injuries Association(SCIAN), and the S.O.S Children's Village.It is gratifying that the thoughtful reverend deemed it fit to look beyond the ecclesiastical boundaries, at the larger society. It is indeed, a proper thing to do because the church should impact its environment. The Bible commands the church to beam its light into a dark world. This way, unbelievers would see the difference and experience the love of Christ beyond mere homilies.According to the Household website, Rev Okotie believes that 'Greatness does not consist in being great, but in the ability to make others great.' Accordingly, as a guiding philosophy of the Pastor, it naturally inspired the concept of GRACE and then KARIS Award, to give recognition to those neglected by the accident of history, in getting their deserved recognition from the nation. To underscore the desire to bring succour to those people, the Awards and GRACE charities carry cash prizes. Great and noble as this is, we have seen little appreciation of it from the government, though its top functionaries are guests at the GRACE events each year.According to an announcement by the Household of God church, this year, Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, Governor of Okala's state, and the Obi(king) of his town, Onitsha, Dr. Alfred Achebe, would grace the event which holds at the 5-Star auditorium on Sunday, December 11, 2011.Though, the glamorous ambience of the church is well known as the flamboyance of its Pastor, Okotie, the importance of the event must never be lost on Nigerians in the midst of the hoopla.The Nigerian leadership is impevious to reason and would not listen to informed opinion. National honousr should be national, to be sure, but it ought to be earned on merit.When awards are subject to federal character rather than genuine character and proven achievements, they become an all comers' affairs. They lose value and credibility.Now, when internationally-acclaimed Nigerians like Achebe reject our National Honours, as a protest against poor leadership, it creates a credibility gap. The government must do something fast to restore the image of the National award institution, otherwise the honours medals would not be worth more than the precious stones from which they were made.Esan wrote in from Ibadan.
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