Nigeria@62 : promoters of Nigeria Colours and Unity Deserves National Honours – An Appeal to Buhari
While we prepare to celebrate Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, I plead with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to also remember two Patriotic Nigerians namely: Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state and Dakta Dibal Wandali of Biu Local Government Area of Borno state that have contributed in no small measure to the unity and faith of Nigeria by proudly showcasing the Nigeria’s Green White Green in all they do for some years and still Counting. These two gentlemen wears only Green White Green attires, have their houses, cars and other personal properties and effects painted Green and white colours. They go all out in preaching about the unity of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari should honour these gentlemen with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) Awards.
Nigerians will appreciate such recognition as it will go a long way in building citizens confidence in the Nation.
Looking at it retrospectively, the history and conferment of national honours on deserving Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various fields of their callings pre-dated the Nigeria’s Independence in 1960. It dates back to the period, when the country was still under the rule of the British colonial imperialism.
To support the above claim, there was such a similar event, when the late Ijebu-Jesa born juju maestro, Isaiah Kehinde Dairo a.k.a I.K Dairo was conferred with the MBE (Member of British Empire) award, by the Queen of England, who was the nominal head of British government then. It was on the occasion of the British Empire Day’s celebration which was being celebrated in all the countries that were under the British rule then. And Nigeria was among those countries until October 1, 1960 and later 1963, when Nigeria became a republican country. Since then, independence anniversary and the Nigerian National Honours Award have replaced the British Empire Day celebration and its award.
It will be good to see that patriotic citizens that have paid their dues and have contributed their quotas to the socio-political-economic development of the country are honoured while they are still alive, instead of conferring on them posthumous awards. If they are honoured in their lifetimes, their spirits as well as those of their children won’t forget the country that recognized and honoured their parents when they were still alive.
It is not too late to accommodate the two Patriots: Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel and Dakta Dibal Wandali for such honour as we celebrate 62nd independence anniversary.
The Nigeria’s national honours should not only be for rich men and political office holders.
Thanks.
Dr. Adejumo K. Peters
