The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday blasted President Bola Tinubu for conferring Nigerian second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during his visit to Nigeria.
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, described the President’s action as a misplaced priority.
Osun Defender reports that Tinubu conferred the honour on Modi during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the Presidential, Abuja.
The President said the award was bestowed on the Indian Prime Minister as a show of appreciation for their partnership and bilateral relationship.
He said, “Nigeria values its excellent relationship with India. We work to deepen and broaden the same to the mutual benefit of our two friendly countries. You have been doing a good job historically. Winning three consecutive elections in a complex society is a feat that we respect so much.
“I will confer on you today, the Prime Minister of India, Nigeria’s national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger. This to signify Nigerian appreciation and commitment to India as a partner,” Tinubu said.
However, Osadolor expressed disappointment in Tinubu, wondering why he chose to gift the second-highest national honour in the land on the basis of mere friendship.
He emphasised that though the President has the right and prerogative to confer a national honour on anybody, there must be criteria to show why they deserve it.
“It is not something you dish out for the sake of friendship and all of that. I don’t know what the Indian Prime Minister has done to have warranted such an honour. But this is the second highest honour in the land. It is a misplacement of priorities.
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“I would have thought that the President should have asked the Indian Prime Minister how the Indian economy has been able to move away from being the poverty capital of the world to being one of the fastest growing economies in the world now. The biggest tech moguls across the globe at the moment are all Indians.
“Just look at Microsoft, the Silicon Valley in America, and startups. They are all being run and set up by Indians. I would have thought that Tinubu, in a bid to shore up the lacuna his cabinet lacks, would have been humble enough to ask the Prime Minister to offer him a clue as to how to help his government and Nigerians. Not dishing out unnecessary awards that the man doesn’t need other than for pictures and commentary,” he said.
Reacting to the PDP stand, APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru said the PDP is no longer playing its role as a responsible opposition.
Duru argued that the President didn’t do anything unprecedented.
He said, “I think the question to ask is, whether there is a precedent in this. Then the next question is if it is within the confines of the power of Mr President to confer such an award. If it is, is the process approved? Once all these questions are answered in the affirmative, it then becomes the discretion of Mr President to confer such honorary award on whom he pleases.
“Having said that, it is also important to underscore the fact that we will need to go beyond the politics of emotions to begin to address the issue. So, the PDP is more than welcome to continue to play the role of opposition, which is admirable.
“However, we like to see a situation whereby what they put on the table is, with respect, how we can make Nigeria a lot better and more improved that will address the issues facing us as a country. I am talking about things like how do we put food on the table, create a better environment for business to thrive and create a better level playing field. These are things that should worry any of us than to chase shadow.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
