Akume under fire for allegedly granting National Awards, Honours to people with ‘questionable character’

The Coalition of Civil Society Network has berated the Minister of Special Duties, Sen. George Akume for granting some undeserved individuals national honours and awards.

The group in a statement released by the union press director, Abdullahi Ibrahim, following the conferring of the rank of Commander of the Order of the Niger(CON) on one Chief Chide Anyaegbu, urged President Muhammed Buhari to investigate the personalities of the people honoured so far by the Ministry of Special Duties.

According to the group, “The Coalition of Civil Society Network express decertification over the manner the Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, handled the nomination of the national merit award, after carefully scrutinized the personalities who were honored, we wish to emphatically say, the process has been bastardised to the extent that many unscrupulous individuals with questionable characters made the list. It is important we know the parameters the organisers of this national merit award devised in selecting the honorees.

“You will all believe with us that the award which was initially designed to be presented to well deserving Nigerians who have outstandingly contributed to the peace, unity and sustainable development growths of this nation, but to our dismay this year’s award was a total departure from the idea of national merit award, due process was not adhered.

“Apart from traditional rulers, Tobi Amusan and few deserving others who were well honored, there are many well deserving Nigerians who have exhibited diligence in national service and have promoted the national well-being of this country.

“We believe President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of honour and integrity and will not allow his name to be thrown into mud, as such we call on him to order an independent investigation into the nomination so as to unravel the undeserving individuals for total omission of their names and cancellation of the appointments for a refresh and transparent process that ushers only eminently qualified Nigerians.”