A former ally of President Buhari, Buba Galadima, has faulted the national honours recently given out to some persons by the President
He alleged that out of the 470 honourees, no fewer than 440 among them should be in prisons across the country.
It would be recalled that Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja conferred national honours on at least 447 persons. Those on the honours list include Nigerians and those tagged “Friends of Nigeria.”
The honourees also include living and deceased Nigerians and “Foreigners”. They were conferred with awards ranging from Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger to Federal Republic Medals.
They include the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (CON); Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku (CON); business magnate, Kessington Adebutu (CFR); Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero (CFR); Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III (CFR); and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wole Olaonipekun (CFR), amongst others.
Others include Solomon Adeola (CON), Akinboro Aruwajoye (OON), Dr Prince Ibidapo (OON), A.V.M Ishaya Shekarri (CON), Mrs Comfort Eyitayo (OON), Ajibola Adebutu (MON), Demola Seriki (CON), Habeeb Okunola (MON), Mrs Shade Okoya (MON), Senator Tolulope Odebiyi (CON), Dr Gabriel Ogbechie (OON), Mele Kyari (OFR), Oba Babatunde Ajayi (CFR), Dr Attia Nasreddin (OFR), Mr Olusola Adeeyo (OON), Dr Richard Nyong (OON) and Mr Remi Makanjuola (OON).
They also include Senator Michael Bamidele (CON), Dr Samson Ayokunle (CON), Justice Idris Haroon (OFR), Justice Sulyman Kawu (OFR), Dr Sulaiman Onikijipa (OON), Dr Kamorun Yusuf (MON), Rear Admiral Abdul Adamu (OFR), Mr Victor Etuokwu (MON), Dr Herbert Wigwe (CON), Gershom Henshaw (MFR), Adeniyi Bashir Adewale (MFR), Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (OFR), amongst others.
Those honoured posthumously include former Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari (CFR); former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru; and Aircraft Man Matthew Oyedepo.
Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s chieftain alleged that some of those awardees were of “doubtful characters”.
According to Galadima, of the 447 people that were given these national awards, I think 440 of them need to be in prisons.
He said, “When you say Buba Galadinma, did you use engineer, Alhaji or whatsoever? I have never taken a chieftaincy title and even the Galadima, if I have my way and if not that it is on my school certificates from primary to university level, I could have dropped the word (Galadima) because that is a traditional title and I don’t need it.