President Jonathan's spokesman Reuben Abati
has explained why late military dictator Gen.
Sani Abacha was given the controversial
Centenary Award, saying that the government
was in no way supporting corrupt practices...
"This (award) does not in any means
translate to supporting sharp practices or
corrupt practices. It is important to make
the clear distinction in this regard.
I think it is important to make the
necessary distinction here. The centenary
award, like every award, has its own
criteria. That centenary award was in
relation to the amalgamation, the national
unity, the history of Nigeria and the roles
played by certain individuals.
The centenary award was not a test of
sainthood. In giving the award to the
former Head of State, Gen. Abacha, the
committee in charge made it very clear that
the award in the category in which the
former Head of State appeared was
awarded with regard to the contributions of
those individuals in keeping Nigeria
together." Continue...
You will find out that under that category,
there were largely former Heads of State,
persons who have at one time or the other
presided over Nigeria and under whose
watch, in spite of whatever challenges they
might have faced, helped to sustain the
unity of the country and helped to defend
the integrity and sovereignty of the country.
That was a specific criterion in this
particular category. Of course, every award
at all, be it for beauty or any other thing
has its own criteria.” Reuben Abati tells
Punch
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