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
