The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flag

  • Exit of Mr flag man

    By Femi Macau

    Oddly, the designer of Nigeria’s flag, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, received the country’s national honour more than five decades after he designed the significant symbol. The delay was inexplicable and inexcusable.  The national honours were instituted four years after the flag was officially hoisted on Nigeria’s Independence Day, October 1, 1960, in replacement of the British Union Jack. The honours are for Nigerians who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation.

    After a campaign by Nigerians who felt he deserved a national honour, Akinkunmi was eventually honoured by his country in September 2014, under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. He received the national honour, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), and was also symbolically appointed as a salaried honorary life presidential special aide. He was 78 at the time and a retired civil servant.

    He was in his early twenties when he designed the flag in 1959, after stumbling upon a newspaper advertisement calling for the submission of designs for the Nigerian flag ahead of the independence of Nigeria from British rule in October 1960. He was then studying Electrical Engineering at Norwood Technical College, now known as Lambeth College, in London.

    He said in a published interview: “I took details of what is expected to design a flag that would be used by a country that was about to witness independence. I took part in the competition and my design was selected as the best.”

    His design was a vertical white band with a radiating red sun, which was flanked by two vertical green bands.  It was selected from among about 2,000 entries as the winning entry because of its ingenuity and profundity. He got 100 pounds for his effort. The judges, however, removed the red sun, leaving only a green-white-green design for the national flag. The green colour signifies agriculture; the white colour stands for unity and peace. 

    It is striking that he won the flag design contest, which can be described as an art competition of sorts. As an electrical engineering student, he made an enlightening statement that artistic talent was not necessarily exclusive.   

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     He was reported saying, “I was well known all over the place. Everybody was calling me Mr Flag Man.” After his education in the UK, he returned to Nigeria in 1963 and rejoined the civil service in Ibadan. He had been employed by the government of the Western Region after he left Ibadan Grammar School (IGS) in 1955. He retired as a civil servant in the early 1990s.

    Interestingly, it can be said that he became anonymous after some time, until one Sunday Olawale Olaniran, then an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, helped to put him back in the spotlight. Olaniran, who called him a “hero without honour,” was doing research on Nigeria’s history for a pamphlet when he decided to search for the designer of the country’s flag.

    “People said he was dead, that I should forget about looking for him and just write about the flag,” Olaniran was reported saying.  But he kept searching until he found the flag designer in Ibadan.  Akinkunmi was said to be living alone, and lacking proper care.  When they met, according to a report, Olaniran said he “was incoherent and kept talking to himself.”

    The researcher was moved to tears. “So, I got in touch with a journalist and we went back two days before Independence Day,” he said. “Even the journalist couldn’t believe the man was still alive.”

    Akinkunmi was a pensioner, but his pension payments were irregular, the researcher said, adding, “Some Nigerians went to him and donated foodstuff, clothes.”

    When the story of his sad situation appeared in The Sun on October 1, 2006, Olaniran said, it attracted the attention of many Nigerians who were unaware of his plight.  Two years later, in 2008, Olaniran was contacted through his blog by a representative of the organisers of the Nigerian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, who wanted to get in touch with Akinkunmi. 

    He later appeared in a special edition of the TV show, and got a cheque for two million naira. His son said the money “given to him by the telecommunications giant, MTN, when he was a guest on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2008,” enabled him to complete the building of his house in Ibadan. The house, painted in the colours of the Nigerian flag, made a strong statement about its owner.

    His eventual inclusion in the list of national honours’ awardees in 2014 was the climax of a difficult journey to deserved recognition.  It was a long road to that juncture.

    In June 2021, Akinkunmi unveiled a Nigerian flag described as “the world’s largest national flag” at an event at the Polo Ground, Jericho, Ibadan. The organisers of the event stated that they had begun the process to get the Guinness World Records to certify the said record.  The flag covered an area of 3,275.6 square metres, a length of 75.3 metres and a width of 43.5 metres. Before the event, the Guinness world record for the largest flag was held by the United Arab Emirates, and covered an area of 2,448.6 square metres.

    He said at the event: “I have always dreamt about Nigeria being at the front of every good thing and I’m delighted to be part of this historical event.” It was a testimony to his place in history as the designer of the Nigerian flag that he was at the centre of the unveiling of the country’s flag in pursuit of a world record.

    The Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria at the time, Gen. Lucky Irabor, who made a surprise appearance at the event, highlighted the significance of the country’s flag, saying, “Let us always remember that the flag is not a mere symbol of Nigeria, it is a symbol of a United Nigeria. Let us work together for unity and love in the country.”

    Akinkunmi’s exit on August 29, aged 87, prompts a look at Nigeria’s history since its independence in 1960 when the flag he designed became the country’s flag. The country has witnessed ups and downs, but the green-white-green flag is unfaded.

  • Army presents Boko Haram flag to Buhari

    Army presents Boko Haram flag to Buhari

    The Nigerian Army on Friday night in Abuja hosted President Muhammadu Buhari to Guards Brigade Regimental Dinner and presented to him the captured Boko Haram flag.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the flag was handed over to the President by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. -Gen. Lucky Irabor.

    NAN recalls that men of the Operation Lafiya Dole operating in the North East had ‎‎successfully captured ‎the‎ “Camp Zero”, ‎the strongest enclave of Boko Haram terrorists sect, in the Sambisa Forest.‎
    ‎
    Irabor, had disclosed that ‎about 1,240 suspected Boko Haram terrorists were arrested during a mop-up operation by troops inside the Sambisa forest.

    While receiving the flag, President Buhari challenged the armed forces on the need to continue to ensure the survival of Nigeria as a geo-political entity despite what he described as “”political madness’’ being exhibited in some parts of the country.

    According to him, it is duty bound for the army to ensure the sustenance of peaceful co-existence among the over 250 ethnic groups across the country.

    “We will do our best to build the national institutions in the country.

    “”All these political madness in the North East, the Niger Delta or in the East should not be allowed to cause division or any form of tension in the country.

    ““There are 250 ethnic groups, so keeping Nigeria one is a task that must be done, even for your personal reason you must make sure this country remains united and stronger,’’ he said.

    President Buhari, who narrated his early military life in Abeokuta and subsequent redeployment to Zaire (now Congo), said he was almost killed while on duty even before enjoying his first salary as an officer.

    The president, therefore, stated that he was conversant with the problems of the military having spent over 25 years in the service.

    He recalled how his refusal to adhere to an advice from the IMF, World Bank to devalue the naira and increase prices of fuel and flour, as a military Head of State, led to his removal.

    He said: ““I refused and gave my reasons and the next thing I knew I was removed and detained for three and half years.

    “As a civilian president I will do my best and I’m telling you all these because you are part of the leadership of this great country and God willing we will remain great.”

    In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai urged the officers and men of the Guards Brigade to always maintain the courage and discipline they are known for in 2017 and beyond.

    He assured that the military would continue their onslaught in the North East, and would not rest in mopping up of the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Buratai reassured that the Nigerian Army would remain apolitical in carrying out its duties to the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the regimental dinner night, which was organized to mark the end of drilling year of the Presidential Brigade of Guards, afforded the officers of the brigade to socialize with their commanders.

    The highlight of the occasion was the ‎inauguration of the PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) Gymnasium at the Scorpion Mess in W.U. Bassey Cantonment by the President.

    The event also witnessed the presentation of Souvenirs, Scorpion Magazine and Compendium of Guards Brigade as well as the conducts of the band by the President.

    The Commander, Brigade of Guards, Brig.-Gen. Musa Yusuf, delivered the vote of thanks at the occasion which was attended by notable personalities including the representative of Senate President, ‎Sen. Leader, Ali Ndume and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammed Bello.

    Others are the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs‎, the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Presidential aides among others.(NAN)

  • Troops recover Shekau’s Qur’an, flag

    Troops recover Shekau’s Qur’an, flag

    The military gave more details yesterday about the capture of Sambisa Forest, including Camp Zero and Camp S (shape), the last bastion of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the military team that battled the sect, Major-Gen. Lucky Irabor, said yesterday that sect leader Abubakar Shekau’s Qur’an and flag were recovered.

    Gen. Irabor, who gave an update on “Operation Rescue Final’’ in Maiduguri, said: “We believe that the Holy Book and the flag were abandoned by Abubakar Shekau while he escaped.

    “The book will be taken to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, for onward presentation to Mr President.

    “We have also made a lot of arrests. Our troops in Damboa arrested about 15 Boko Haram members. We also arrested one Musa from Potiskum on Christmas Day.

    “On Dec. 26 our troops also intercepted two Boko Haram suspects in Maiduguri.

    “We, therefore, warn residents of the state to be wary of people coming to hide in and around their houses.

    “We are also warning residents to report any suspected Boko Haram members hiding in their houses to the relevant security agencies and any failure to do that would be tantamount to supporting and sympathising with the sect’s activities,’’ he said.

    Gen. Irabor added that troops arrested about 1,240 suspected terrorists during a mop-up operation by troops inside the forest.

    According to him, 413 of the suspects were adults; 323 were women; 251 male children and 253 were female children.

    He said: “We are interrogating them to know whether they are Boko Haram members, because there is no way somebody that is not their member would live inside Sambisa forest.

    “We are still on the trail of the terrorists and I want to assure you that all escape routes have been blocked.

    “Within this period, also, about 30 fleeing suspected Boko Haram members have surrendered to the Niger Multinational Troops on the shores of the lake Chad and we learnt that they were taken to Diffa in Niger Republic.

    “The suspects include 24 male and six female.

    “We would like to use this opportunity to encourage the terrorists to give up the fight because the window is still open,” the commander said.

    Gen. Irabor noted that the Sambisa Forest was abandoned without any government presence which made it easy for the insurgents to take advantage of the area.

    He said the activities of the army in the area would not affect the original purpose of the land which is a game reserve.

    He added that the army would construct roads into the forest, and called on the government and other individuals to support the army in its endeavour to succeed in the fight.

    He said the operation was still on going at the Sambisa forest and other parts of the North East to ensure a total wipe out of the terrorists

    Gen. Irabor pleaded with individuals and organisations to assist the military with useful information about the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their midst and support or logistics to end the insurgency completely and permanently.

    He urged the government to move in quickly and establish civil authorities in the liberated areas to enable residents  return to their various communities.

    “Let me state that we have won the war by destroying terrorists’ fortress, and smoked them out from this forest. We are however in a transition phase after winning the war against Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism. We need to win the peace now”

    The Theatre Commander also denied the picture of a Whiteman being circulated on the social media as a suspect arrested by troops during the operation in Sambisa forest.

    “That picture of the Whiteman being circulated as an arrested Boko Haram suspect from Sambisa Forest is not from us. That picture is not from the army. It is not our picture”, Gen. Irabor said.

    Niger Republic’s Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said dozens of Boko Haram fighters had given themselves up to authorities in southern Niger.

    The minister said 31 young people from Diffa, who were enrolled a few years ago in Boko Haram, decided to surrender.

    The fighters arrived in the remote desert town of Diffa in groups and were being held by local authorities.

    “I learnt that the first who surrendered were not arrested, and I surrendered.

    “We expect a pardon from the government so that we can participate in the development of the country and help us get rid of the trauma,’’ a former Boko Haram combatant told reporters.

    In June, tens of thousands of people fled Diffa as Boko Haram swept the region.

    Five Niger Republic soldiers were killed by the militants near Diffa in September.

    It was not clear what would become of the ex-Boko Haram fighters, but authorities said there was the possibility of reintegrating them back into society.

    A security source said a meeting had been  held in Diffa to discuss “the conditions of surrender”, without providing further details.

    Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced over two million during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state in Nigeria.

    In recent years, its attacks have spilled into neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

    Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters surrendered in Chad in October and November as the group ceded territory.

    The group controlled an area about the size of Belgium in early 2015 but has since been pushed back by international forces, including troops from Niger.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday announced that the army captured Boko Haram’s  last enclave in the vast Sambisa forest on Friday.

  • Ebonyi flags off one man, one hectare agric plan

    Ebonyi flags off one man, one hectare agric plan

    Ebonyi State has launched the one man, one hectare agricultural programme aimed at making the state one of the highest food producers in the country.

    Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbe launched the programme at the Ebonyi Demonstration Farm, Ezillo, by planting palm trees. He blamed past administrations in the country for not diversifying the economy, saying they depended wholly on oil and resorted to massive importation.

    “The country imported virtually every item from toothpicks to palm produce but the country doesn’t have money again to import,” he said.

    The minister noted that the federal government therefore decided to go into massive production with much emphasis on agriculture.

    He said, “The hunger in the land might last for a while but soon, there would be enough food in the country and for  exportation.”

    He advised the politicians to have a ‘second address’ because political offices can end abruptly and they can farm peacefully when politics ends.

    “The government would provide machines to Ebonyi for the harvesting of rice and other farm produce and those to prepare crop nursery before planting,” he said, noting that wrong application of fertilisers can destroy soil nutrients and ultimately cause poor yield of crops.

    “The federal government would inaugurate dams in all states of the country in the next two years, to ensure all year farming activities.

    He urged the youths to go into farming as a means of lifting themselves from poverty

    The state governor David Umahi noted that the state was showing agricultural revolution to make its economy self-sufficient.

    “All political office holders in the executive and legislature have farm lands in this demonstration farm as the programme would be the order of the day in the state.”

    He noted that all citizens of the state would cultivate at least one hectare because the government does not want any land to lie fallow in the state.

    “We want to excel in palm produce  sector as we have done in rice production, as we are going to plant the produce at 10 metres of verges of roads in state and federal roads.

    Launching the one man, one hectare agricultural policy of the state government and commissioning of agricultural mechinaries and equipments at the Abakaliki township Stadium, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh assured that more federal government programmes and policies in agriculture would be implemented in the state.

    Ogbeh who was impressed with the state government policies in agriculture added that more agricultural seedlings, machineries and cottage industries would be assigned to the state to boost the present administration’s impact in the area of agriculture.

    He charged the people of the state to be part of the agricultural policies of the present administration even as he urged Nigerians not to depend mostly on imported goods but products produced and certified in the country for safety and longevity.

    In his remark, Governor David Umahi who expressed the readiness of the present administration to uplift the living standard of Ebonyi people assured the federal government of its continued partnership necessary for the wellbeing of the state.

    He said the state government will come up with a policy that will allow Civil servants to work half day on Fridays so as to allow them go and attend to their farms.

    “Members of the state Executive council have led by example as they already have started farming. Each member agreed to farm at least 2 hectare,” Umahi added.

    The state government also flagged off the distribution of N250,000 each to 3000 unemployed Ebonyi youths for human capital development in the area of agriculture and Empowerment. ENDS

    Pic-Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe and Governor David Umahi on one of the tractors procured by the state government for the One man, One hectare programme.

     

  • Kerry presides over raising of flag at U.S. embassy in Cuba

    Havana – Watched over by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Marines raised the American flag at the embassy in Cuba for the first time in 54 years  yesterday , symbolically ushering in an era of renewed diplomatic relations between the two Cold War-era foes.

    Three retired Marines who last lowered the flag in 1961 participated in the ceremony, handing a new flag to the Marine Colour Guard, which raised it on the grounds outside the embassy building on the Havana seafront.

    Kerry, the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Cuba in 70 years, said at the event that  it was obvious that “the road of mutual isolation and estrangement that the United States and Cuba have been travelling is not the right one and that the time has come for us to move in a more promising direction.”

    The symbolic event took place eight months after Havana and Washington agreed to restore ties and nearly four weeks after the United States and Cuba formally renewed diplomatic relations and upgraded their diplomatic missions to embassies.

    While the Cubans celebrated with a flag-raising in Washington on July 20, the Americans waited until Kerry could travel to Havana.

    Kerry made declared  that despite the historic opening, Washington has not set aside criticism of Communist-run Cuba’s human rights record.

    “We remain convinced the people of Cuba would be best served by a genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their leaders,” he said.

    Kerry was billed to  meet Cuban dissidents opposed to the island’s one-party political system at the U.S. embassy residence in Havana last night.

    But dissidents were not invited to the  morning flag-raising in deference to the Cuban government, generating criticism from opponents of U.S. President Barack Obama’s opening to Cuba.

    Critics of Obama’s move, which seeks to end decades of U.S. isolation and was announced last December in a landmark agreement with Cuban President Raul Castro, complain the Cuban government has made no concessions in exchange for diplomatic ties.

    “It is shameful that on the grounds of our embassy in Havana, the Cuban regime can dictate to the United States government who may or may not attend this ceremony,” Bob Menendez, a Cuban-American senator from New Jersey, said in a statement.

    Overnight, workers attached a sign reading “Embassy of the United States of America” above the entrance of the building, accompanied by a U.S. seal.

    Three classic American cars like those that still ply the streets of Havana were parked on the street behind the podium where Kerry spoke: a 1955 and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 1959 Chevrolet Impala, from the year of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.

  • How Folarin emerged Oyo PDP flag bearer

    How Folarin emerged Oyo PDP flag bearer

    The outcome of the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State jolted some party juggernauts and residents of the state. Many concerned stakeholders had entertained fears that the party may not be unable to wriggle out of the logjam arising from the battle for its governorship ticket for the forthcoming general elections.

    But, it was not to be. The event ended with the emergence of former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin as the standard-bearer of the PDP for the governorship contest at the end of proceedings at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, the state capital. Observers were not surprised at his emergence, having always seen the light pointing towards his direction since 2012.

    The journey to last Monday’s success actually began in 2010, when he was roped into the circumstances surrounding the death of the then kingpin of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alh. Lateef Salako (aka Elewe omo).

    The unionist was stabbed to death in a location within Ona-Ara Local Government where Folarin hails from. He was arrested and arraigned for allegedly having a hand in the gruesome killing of the late commercial driver.

    Folarin was also detained on the charges, though he was the Senate Leader at the time. But, many keen followers of Oyo politics believed that the Senator was being persecuted for his ambition to succeed the then Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in the 2011 election. Owing to his detention, he was unable to contest the election; a development that was an accomplished mission for Alao-Akala.

    But, Folarin came into the limelight within the PDP when he moved the motion earlier in 2010, urging the Senate to adopt the doctrine of necessity to allow the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to be sworn in as Acting President,  following ill-health of his boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. His motion was adopted, leading to the swearing in of Jonathan as President.

    For that singular act, Folarin sowed a seed, which he has been reaping within the corridors of power at the Presidency. His first harvest came early in 2011, when the Senate rose in his support and prevailed on the Presidency to secure his release. It worked like magic.

    His 2010 heroic motion had paved the way for him to realise his ambition of picking the party’s ticket in 2011, but for the murder charge.

    Aside enjoying the sympathy of Senate President David Mark and other active participants in that historic event at the National Assembly, Folarin also has a robust relationship with some leaders of the party at the national level. All these worked together for the success of the former Senate Leader last Monday.

    Thus, it was easy for him to hijack the leadership of the party in the state in 2012, after Alao-Akala left office.

    For any aspirant to emerge as the party’s governorship flag bearer in the state, he must have control of the party executive at the state and local government levels. In this regard, Folarin started warming his way into the hearts of the executives at the state and local government levels since Alao-Akala ‘stepped aside’ in 2012. So, aspirants that started jostling to pick the ticket in the last one year were only pursuing a shadow as far as the party structure is concerned.

    Only statutory delegates voted in the primary. These are members of the executive of the party in local and state levels, as well as members of the state House of Assembly, as well as those of the National Assembly.

    Now that Folarin has picked the ticket, however, some of his opponents are not willing to let go easily. One of them is Oluseyi Makinde who has vowed to challenge his candidacy in court, should he be presented as the party’s flag bearer in the next year election.

    Makinde’s group obtained a court ruling three days before the governorship primary, validating the delegates’ list used on the November 24 ward congress for last Monday’s primary. He described the primary, which produced Folarin as a nullity in the face of the law. Will Folarin scale through this and any other challenges that may arise?

    Again, analysts are quick to ask if the new PDP candidate is popular enough to defeat the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his predecessor Rashidi Ladoja of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party respectively.

  • Flag designer gets salary for life

    Flag designer gets salary for life

    •Abuja houses for presidential steward, taxi driver

    National flag designer Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, 78, is to be placed on salary of special assistant to the president for the rest of his life, President Goodluck Jonathan announced yesterday.

    Akinkunmi, who has gone blind, was led to the President by his child to collect the national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) at a colourful ceremony in Abuja.

    The President also directed the Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed, to give one flat each in the FCT to the taxi driver who returned N18 million forgotten in his car to the owner, Imeh Usuah, Head of Presidential Stewards, Onuh Isaac Michael and a traffic warden, Solomon Dauda.

    The three of them also got national honours. Usuah got Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). Onuh and Dauda got Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

    The President said: “Let me specially appreciate these people, the taxi driver, Imeh Usuah, Corporal Solomon Dauda, presidential steward, Mr. Isaac Michael Onuh. Those who take into criminalities because of poverty are not quite right because myself and some of you here knew where we are coming from. We passed through stress but we didn’t take to criminality. For these gentlemen, we appreciate you. The FCT Minister will give one flat each to the three of them.”

    Speaking further on the presidential steward, he said: “A very dedicated steward who has served every Head of State loyally since President Shehu Shagari. From Shagari till today, to have survived about nine presidents and nine first ladies, you must be a great man.”

    On the reward to the national flag designer, Jonathan said: “As someone who contributed so much to the history of this country, the person who designed the Nigerian flag, Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, who was also honoured here, you have to place him on a salary of special assistant to the President forever.”

    He expressed the hope that the recognition accorded all the recipients would inspire other Nigerians to rededicate themselves to rendering services to Nigeria and humanity.

    Underscoring the essence of the awards, the President said: “No great nation toys with honours that constitute its national code of ethics”.

    The President said the national honour must never be seen as a piece of paper or garland that can be obtained by persons of questionable character.

    He urged Nigerians to actively participate in the nomination process whenever it is advertised in the media, even as he noted that the broader spectrum exhibited in this year’s award was an indication of the wide search conducted by the Honours Committee.

    While 313 persons were on the 2013/2014 national honour award list yesterday, the Master of Ceremony skipped the name of Olorogun Felix Ibru.

    President of the Court of Appeal Zainab Bulkachuwa (CFR), on behalf of the recipients , said the honour would serve to ginger the awardees to do more for the nation.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, recalled that the annual awards were instituted by the Order of Dignity Act of 1963.

    Chairman of the Honours Award Committee and former Chief Justice of Nigeria Alfa Belgore spoke of a rigorous screening to select persons of honour and impeccable character for the awards.

    He said that 4,737 persons have received all categories of the national honours from 1963 to date with 313 recipients for 2013/2014.

    After receiving the awards of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON), Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) promised to bring more dividends of democracy to the people of their states.

    Amosu said the honour meant that his efforts at making life meaningful for the people were being appreciated.

    He said: “It (the national honour) means that we should work more for the nation, work more for the states; that is what it means to me.

    “When you are given award like this, you are honoured; it is a call for more service.

    Amosun said he would not agree with those who said the awards have become an all-comers affair.

    “It is like describing an elephant, it is from the perspective from which you are looking at it. Yes, there may be one or two misgivings about it; people will talk anyway. That is why I will not want to totally agree with them in that perspective. I think whoever is given, it is a call to serve more, render selfless service to the nation and to our different states,” he said.

    Among the awardees was the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who was represented at the ceremony.