President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday rewarded honesty, hardwork and integrity when he directed FCT minister Senator Bala Mohammed to provide a flat each as personal houses to Mr. Imeh Usuah, a taxi driver who returned N18 million forgotten in his cab to the owner; Corporal Solomon Dauda, a traffic warden in Abuja who performs his duty with passion and Mr. Onuh Michael, a cook who has served at the presidential villa since 1979.
He also directed the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, to place the man who designed Nigeria’s national flag, Pa Michael Taiwo, on a salary equivalent to that of a special adviser to the president for the rest of his life.
The president also conferred the national honours award of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) on Taiwo, while Usuah, Dauda and Onuh bagged the national honours of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in addition to their houses.
Announcing the special packages for the four Nigerians at this year’s national honours award investiture where he presented national awards to 313 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, Jonathan decried the brazen manner in which Nigerians have degenerated from high standard values in every sector, including their political and social life, and are now even desecrating their religious values.
Directing the FCT minister to provide personal houses for the trio, the president said: “I read a story in The Vanguard on Sunday yesterday in which Michael Isaac Onuh was described as a pauper in the State House. You can see that those who take to criminality do not necessarily do so because of poverty; it is possible for people to be poor and live a life of honour and dignity, because some of you here and me know where we are coming from.
“We have passed through stress, but we did not take to criminality. It is also why we appreciate these three gentlemen: Onuh the taxi driver, Usuah, and Corporal Dauda. In addition to the national honours already bestowed on you, I hereby direct the minister of the Federal Capital Territory to give you a gift of a flat each”.
For the designer of Nigeria’s national flag, Jonathan said, “And by the same token, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation should ensure that another award recipient who has contributed so much to the history of this country, the person who designed the Nigerian Flag, Pa Michael Akinkunmi, is placed on the salary of a special assistant to the president.”
Eight serving governors bagged the national awards of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON). They are Chief Theodore Orji (Abia), Malam Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), David Jonah (Plateau) and Senator Ibikunle Amosu (Osun).
Nine serving ministers were also conferred with CON honours. They include 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 (Mines and Steel), Nyeson Wike (Education, state) and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Finance, state).
The All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman John Oyegun and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi who were to be conferred with a national awards were absent at the event.
Speaking further at the event, President Jonathan, who noted that the conferment of the honours conforms with the country’s laws, said the ceremony is an annual ritual of renewal in which the society constantly connects with its higher values.