Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) is the new appendage to the numerous titles of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the erstwhile acting National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He has now joined the league of eminent Nigerians bestowed with national honours. Alhaji Baraje, a child of destiny, is one of the few Nigerians considered for this merit award alongside with 148 others. With this award, Baraje, an unassuming Nigerian has again made history. Definitely, a lot of things must have been considered before this humble Nigerian was selected among many other personages for this exalted rank.Give him a job to do, and you will see commitment, passion, selflessless and fear of God while discharging such assignment. The leadership position he held as the acting national chairman of the ruling party in Nigeria, the PDP, his civil service career in Kwara State from teaching to the pinnacle of his career when he rose to the position of Permanent Secretary before he retired in 2006, are some of the issues of note that qualified him for this award. And so, on Monday, September 17, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, received the national Award from President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR).Alhaji Baraje's foray into national politics began in 2005 as the secretary to the Kwara State delegation at the National Political Reform Conference, and in 2007, he represented the state at the presidential campaign of the PDP as the Assistant Director in charge of administration.Alhaji Baraje was the sole candidate of the North Central zone for the position of National Secretary to the PDP at the 2008 National Convention and he eventually emerged unopposed.Today, Baraje remains the longest serving National Secretary to the PDP a position he held with outstanding achievements and high dedication to duty.As fate will have it, he rose to the position of acting chairman of the party in July 2011, after the elected chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed was named a minister. Baraje's position as acting chairman was short but eventful. He really proved himself not only as a worthy ambassador of Kwara State but of the entire nation, before the outside world, as he is no doubt a reference point at any point in time.Whenever the history of Nigeria's leading and dominant political party, the PDP is written, the name of Alhaji Baraje will occupy a prominent position. He is a humble, hardworking and God-fearing man, and his sterling performance as the administrator-in-chief of the party encouraged the new party leader, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to endorse his being catapulted into the acting national chairmanship seat of the party. His leadership superintended the most transparent, free, fair and credible primary elections in five states of the federation; Kogi, Adamawa, Cross River, Bayelsa and Sokoto. Even when the Supreme Court landmark judgment sacked all the five governors who were fighting a legal battle over the interpretation of their tenure in office in one fell swoop, and there was attendant apprehension in PDP, the party still bounced back to win the gubernatorial polls in all the five states of Sokoto, Cross River, Kogi, Adamawa, and Bayelsa.He has continued to render valuable services to the people of the state. Baraje's love for teaching which was his first profession has motivated him to build a state-of-the-art educational institution in the state, as he hoped to return to the classes soon to contribute to the empowerment of youths from their formative ages.Going by all these outstanding qualities, he definitely deserves the National Award of CON conferred on him. For Baraje, the National award is fitting on his head.It will be recalled that the National Honours in Nigeria were instituted by the National Honours Act. No. 5 of 1964, during the First Republic, to honour Nigerians from all walks of life, who have rendered special and outstanding services in their various callings to the benefit and progress of the nation. The Act empowers the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria to make provisions for the award of honours, decorations and dignities.The National awards, in descending order of importance are the GCFR, GCON, CFR, CON, OFR, OON, MFR, and MON. Though it is open to only citizens of Nigeria, honorary awards can be conferred on non-citizens.The first two Nigerians who were conferred with the prestigious GCFR were Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and General Olusegun Obasanjo. The investiture was performed on September 23, 1981 by then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.Again in 2012, history is being made in Nigeria as President Goodluck Jonathan conferred the National Honours Award on 149 deserving Nigerians.The National award honours though have been variously criticised of having been abused, bastardised or monetised, but for Alhaji Baraje, again, it is a worthy award.However, to avoid criticism, in future, nominees of National Awards should be properly screened, so that only those who fall into the award winning categories are selected. Among creteria that should be considered is that such awardee or awardees must have distinguished themselves in their services to the nation. They should be seen to have been instrumental for motivating the wider citizenry to strive for greater heights, and must have contributed more actively towards promoting the nations' value and have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour.Baraje, you are a worthy Ambassador of Kwara State and really deserve this National Award as a unique endorsement of your leadership qualities as a teacher, an administrator and a politician. May the Almighty Allah grant you more successes and blessings. Akanbi writes from Ilorin
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