Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s national honours system, saying the prestigious awards should prioritize entrepreneurs and productive citizens over politicians.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of The Chronicles of a Legend a biography of renowned business magnate and philanthropist Chief Gabriel Igbinedion Obi said the criteria for national recognition must reflect merit, impact, and productivity.
“The Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) should be for entrepreneurs and productive people, not politicians,” Obi stated. “We have to change the way we honour people.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, praised Igbinedion for his contributions to Nigeria’s private sector especially in aviation, education, and cultural preservation and said such achievements deserve far greater national celebration.
“We live in a country where we celebrate people who are supposed not to be celebrated. If we did, the celebration we are giving him [Igbinedion] today would have been more,” Obi said.
He also noted Igbinedion’s record as a major employer of labour, referencing his businesses that once provided jobs to more than 17,000 Nigerians.
“If we had been a country that was productive, over 20 million Nigerians would have been employed because Igbinedion employed over 17,000,” he added.
Broader Debate on Recognition and Merit
Obi’s remarks come amid growing national debate over the recent distribution of honours and material rewards to public figures and sports personalities. Last month, the Federal Government conferred national awards and gifted houses and cash to members of the Super Falcons following their WAFCON victory.
While the gesture drew praise, it also reignited public calls for more balanced recognition of professionals in fields such as education, health, science, and national security.
In July, President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on various Nigerians both living and posthumously for their perceived contributions to national development. The decision received mixed reactions, with many questioning the selection criteria and the emphasis on political figures.
Obi’s call reflects a broader sentiment among Nigerians who believe national recognition should be tied to measurable contributions that uplift the country’s economy, institutions, and future prospects.
“We must become a country that honours value, productivity, and real service not positions held,” Obi concluded.
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