SECURITY guarantee for eminent Nigerians to be honoured by the Federal Government yesterday topped pre-event activities for the National Honours Awards holding in Abuja today.There was heavy presence of armed military and police personnel in the Federal Capital City (FCC) as vehicular movement along the Area 11 junction, which passes through the Louis Edet House Headquarters of the Nigeria Police leading to the Eagle Square was cordoned off and diverted.Visitors and other commuters engaging in sundry businesses around the Three Arms zone will have a herculean task traversing through the city centre today, as they will not be allowed free access, which hitherto prevailed in the area.All routs leading to the International Conference Centre (ICC) have also been cordoned off and heavily armed soldiers have been deployed to mount sentry around the area because of the proximity to Defence Headquarters which provides accommodation for the three armed Services located in Area 7, Garki.The Guardian also learnt that only accredited journalists as well as the award recipients and at least one of their guests will be allowed to enter the venue of the ceremony.The government is however not carrying on with the event without taking cognisance of the apparent indifference or disdain for it by some awardees, who have announced their rejection of the honour.President Goodluck Jonathan, who reacted to the development yesterday, particularly singled out renowned novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe's decision to turn down his award for the second time in seven years.Achebe, who was to be conferred with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), rejected it.But for his decision, Achebe would have been one of the 365 awardees to be decorated with national honours today by President Jonathan at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.Achebe had rejected the same award given to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, citing his differences with the leader over his handling of the crisis that led to the abduction of former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige.The Guardian learnt last night that over 15,000 policemen and personnel of other security agencies had been mobilised for the ceremony. They are mandated to ensure that both the venue of the event and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are well secured before, during and after the ceremony. The action may have been informed by bomb scare and the recent security alert of the United States that some hotels have been penciled down for fresh bombing by the Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalist sect.In a statement released in Abuja by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan also expressed surprise at Achebe's claim that the issues, which caused him to reject the same award in 2004, remain unresolved.Despite his action, Abati said 'Prof. Achebe remains in President Jonathan's consideration, a national icon, a Nigerian of high attainments, indeed one of the greatest living Africans of our time.'According to the statement, 'coming as it does, against the background of the widely acclaimed electoral reforms undertaken by the Jonathan administration, the claim by Prof. Achebe clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria's current political situation.'As reflected in the immense improvements recorded in the conduct of the last general elections, which were applauded within and outside the country as the most credible elections in Nigeria in recent years, the Jonathan administration has made tremendous efforts to positively change the political architecture complained about by Prof. Achebe and other Nigerians.'Politically, Nigeria cannot be said to be where it was in 2004 as the Jonathan administration has embarked on extensive electoral reforms to institute a regime of electoral integrity that all Nigerians can be proud of, believing that governance will be greatly enhanced in the country if the will of the people prevails at elections.'While President Jonathan acknowledges that there are still challenges in the path of Nigeria's attainment of its full potential as a nation, he believes that his administration is moving the country in the right direction and therefore deserves the support, encouragement and co-operation of all citizens..'The President continues to hold Prof. Achebe in very high esteem in spite of his regrettable decision which may have been borne out of misinformation as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria and hopes that he will find time to visit home soon and see the progress being made by the Jonathan administration for himself,'Abati said.Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Sixth National Assembly, Babangida Nguroje, has urged all Nigerians to see the awards as recognition for a meritorious service and not an honour bestowed only on politicians.Nguroje, who will receive the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) today, commended the President for the honour.Also, the Minority Leader of the Lower House, Femi Gbajabiamila, has written President Jonathan to indicate his rejection of the award of Order of the Federation (OFR).Former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said yesterday that the credibility of the national awards was in doubt because of the way the government had gone about it..He said it was complete departure from the past where credible persons were honoured unlike 'this award, which looks more or less like political settlement for government loyalists.'Musa queried the calibre of the people nominated for the awards: 'It is obvious that so many people do not want to associate themselves with the awards.'He said Nigeria is currently going through a series of challenges, which calls for sober reflection rather than trying to placate some citizens with national honours.To Senator Victor Oyofo, who represented Edo North in the Upper House from 1999-2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the issue of national awards needed to be redefined in the country.According to him, 'I do not have any issue with the national honour neither do I have with those that are being honoured but my worry is the need for us to redefine what national honour means.'.Oyofo said he doubted whether many people would want to wear the award after the event..The Chairman, National Transformation Party (NTP), Emmanuel Mok, said today's exercise is complete departure from a national event.He described the exercise as a 'mere political settlement for those who assisted the government. In those days people that were given awards, particularly the GCON were those who made tremendous contributions to their fatherland.
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