A taxi driver, who returned N18 Million to the owner, Mr. Imeh Usuah; a traffic warden who perform his duty with a lot of zeal at Wuse in Abuja, Corporal Solomon Dauda and a cook in the Presidential villa since 1979, Mr. Onuh Michael have all bagged a presidential order for a flat each in Abuja for their honesty and hardwork. They also bagged a national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Similarly, the man who designed the Nigerian National White-Green-White flag, Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi got a Presidential order to be placed on salary of the officer equivalent to the Special Adviser (SA) to the President for the rest of his life. He also bagged the award of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
President Goodluck Jonathan, who announced the special packages for these four Nigerians as he presented various national awards of honour to 313 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria at in Abuja today, said the government would continue to recognize and reward those who place value on dignity.
The President regretted that over time, Nigeria has degenerated from high standard values in every sector of the polical and social life to even desecrating the religious values.
Others who received national awards of honour today are eight serving governors: Chief Theodore Orji of Abia state, Malam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state, Barrister Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi state, David Jonah Jang of Plateau state and Senator Ibikunle Amosu of Osun state who each bagged Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
Nine serving ministers were also conferred with CON. They are Malam Ibrahim Shekarau (Education), Professor Chinedu Nebo (Power), Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe (Water Resources), Arc. Mike Onolememen (Works), Labaran Maku (Information), Hajiya Zainab Maina (Women Affairs), Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada (Mine and Steel), and Nyeson Wike (Education –State) and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Finance -State).
All the present service chiefs, including the acting Inspector General of Police and most judges of the Supreme court, Head of the nation’s Civil Service and some top traditional rulers were awarded with Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). [myad]
