Arewa group cautions against delisting Saraki from roll call
President Muhammadu Buhari is to confer Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) national honour on the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume, made the announcement in a letter he transmitted to Dogara.
The minister, in the letter dated September 16, 2022, with referenced FMSDIGA/NHA/001k/T/90, said the investiture would hold on October 11 in Abuja.
CFR is the third highest national honour in Nigeria after and Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) that are exclusively conferred on sitting and former presidents and the latter on incumbent and erstwhile vice presidents.
The honour is coming more than three years since he left office as the 14th Speaker of the lower legislative chamber. He was listed among the 437 nominees for the 2022 National Honours Award.
MEANWHILE, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has appealed to Nigerian leader to list ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki for his contributions to nation’s development.
It said the call appeal followed speculation that Saraki’s name had been delisted following alleged power play between forces in the corridors of power for and against the former Kwara State governor.
In a statement jointly signed by the chairman and secretary, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu and Mr. Jerome Audu, the group noted that the Vice president, Senate President and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) are statutorily entitled to national honours.
It, therefore, urged Buhari to do the needful and avoid being brainwashed into politics of bitterness and vengeance.
The group also advised the President to make more friends than enemies now that he is rounding off his the second and last term in office.
Out of the 437 nominees, five persons are GCON, 54 for CFR and 67 for Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Others are 64 for Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), 101 for Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), 75 for Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), 56 for Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and eight for Federal Republic Medal (FRM).
