Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: Centenary: Presidency Defends Abacha's Award.

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Saturday, March 08, 2014

Centenary: Presidency Defends Abacha's Award.



The Presidency has defended the centenary award given to the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, saying the award was not a glorification of corruption.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who defended the posthumous award given to Abacha during Nigeria’s centenary celebration last week, said that the award was not meant to celebrate moral virtues.




 A cross section of Nigerians had questioned the government for honouring some controversial recipients, one of whom was Abacha.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, even rejected his nomination for the centenary award, saying he could not share the award with Abacha, who he described as a “murderer and thief of no redeeming quality”.


However, Abati said that the award did not mean that the government was supporting sharp or corrupt practices, adding that the allegation about money laundering and forfeiture of money was another matter entirely in which the government was also interested.


He said, “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.”
He said, in giving the award to Abacha, the committee in charge made it clear that he and others under the same category were honoured with regards to their contributions in keeping Nigeria together.
 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.


“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.”


Abacha was honoured during the nation’s centenary award last Friday under the category of “outstanding promoters of unity, patriotism and national development.”

The reason given for his nomination was that “he took over power when the nation was on the brink of precipice. He mobilised the nation’s most prominent political class into his cabinet and succeeded in ensuring the continued unity of the nation. He also raised Nigeria’s international standing for his peace keeping military interventions in Sierra Leone and Liberia.”
His award was received on his behalf by his widow, Mariam.culled


28 comments:

  1. REUBEN ABATI, GEJ AND CO SHOULD KNOW THAT NIGERIANS ARE NOT FOOLS.

    YOU CELEBRATE WHAT YOU KNOW. U CELEBRATE CRIME, CORRUPTION, THEFT, KILLING, EMBEZZLEMENT, STEALING, WICKEDNESS ETC

    NOTHING ELSE WILL MAKE SOMEBODY GIVE AN AWARD TO A SOMEONE LIKE ABACHA.

    THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN HERE...DON'T KNOW WHO TO BLAME MORE.....THE LEADERS OR THE FOLLOWERS. I'M NOT NIGERIAN....RIGHT NOW

    ReplyDelete
  2. IRENE GO MISYARN TODAY OOOOOOO8 March 2014 at 07:45

    Noted Sir.
    Wey our Saturday Laughs abeg?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abeg my Madam......easy Oooooooo

      :D


      Happy Saturday ma'am

      Delete
    2. Yomslaw! Cover dat ur ugly face.I no u ll like to comment on dis cos u like abacha.idiot

      Delete
    3. Yomslaw! Cover dat ur ugly face.I no u ll like to comment on dis cos u like abacha.idiot

      Delete
  3. They should just let dis matter rest cos there' no point they make to justufy that act that Nigerians will accept.......Abacha's name is already associated with evil....its a fact and they shoukd deal with it....

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  4. Gbam don't I love Johnathan the more!!! People like Soyinka won't see this before criticizing.... Mtcheewwww!!
    Very soon we will have category for people that always rejects awards!!!##Achebe, and Wole Soyinka# SMH
    Steph Sucre

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  5. Only in Nigeria! Stupid people!

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  6. inasmuch as everyone knows and isn't happy abt d corrupt ways of Abacha,it still doesn't change the fact he was a past president of this country and so deserves the award.....give to caesar what is caesar's!

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  7. This abati wee soon meet his loo! Agbejoro funjoba

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  8. Ok,i get it now! Better they explained and the explanation was reasonable

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  9. So a day can come that Abati will defend Abacha under whatever guise. Shame on you and your boss, the most confused man in the world, GEJ. Abati, this is beneath even you. You should have pled ill health and allowed another errand boy issue this statement. OLE, ALATENUJE, ADIGUNJALE, OKANJUA, OLOJUKOKORO!

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    Replies
    1. Goldscent dont u think ur Fada get all these names wey u dey call Abati. I know ur type if u enter ordinary LGA govt u are done for life. OLE WOBIA

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  10. I can imagine the whole Nigerians after reading this shouting;SHUT THE FUCK UP,can i be heard?

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    Replies
    1. Am pointing my middle figure to all abacha supporter including u, Shuck d fuck up!stupid guy. I no belive say u can b fake like. Yarn rubbish wit ur dirty mouth

      Delete
  11. What difference dose it make? Mtcheeew.

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  12. Now this is where kaycee's point plays it role. After reading your comment that day on this topic where the son and some other guy where exchanging letters,I was going to comment but couldn't... He was awarded because of his morality or whatsoever,but because he was a head of state at that time and there where w some things he did to keep the country together.

    so for that,he deserves to be awarded.. When you say killings,obj wiped a community and no one is saying anything. When you say embezzling,obj and others are still doing so. Abacha's rule was a military rule so he did what military men did or would still do if a we leave democracy. I didn't study govt cos I was in science class but read a little about it and military rule doesn't tolorate so many things. No one is allowed to err there view. Its a one mans rule. We should be glad that we are now in democracy

    Well for those who would want to cuss me out. Save it please,this is my opinion and I am entitled to it. Constructive criticism allowed though but if associated with insults,then it shows how you were raised

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  13. Abati u making no sense! Pls Abacha was very corrupt and @ dis stage of nigerian development we don't need 2 celebrate thieves or corrupt leaders. This guy was a murderer 4 crying out loud n his ill gotten wealth r statched all around d globe both d ones we cld n those we can't recover. What's d lesson 4 the up coming generation? That sm1 can steal n smhw smday b celebrated! Its not fair. U guys must not always b shoving this criminals on our faces like "deal with it u gat no mouth". I guess all this is just a ploy 2 create more political strength networks relevance n tentacles by d GEJ camp. Bode gorge, alamesia mustapha now abacha hahhaha yea I 4got they tried 2 extadite ibori bk home. Naija I hail theee

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  14. I pity this Reuben not in good pity but what he will be after GEJ presidency because that's the time he will really see the mess created by this useless government and their propaganda. After watching him on Aljeezera Tv few days ago where he could not even defend his government properly I just know we are facing a big storm in Nigerian in coming months and years. My advise for people is to be prepared for 2015 make sure your take out your kids out of Nigeria 2months before election incase their propaganda did not work because Nigerians will resist them am sure. People are suffering few are enjoying do you think it will be business as usual everytime? One day Nigerians will explode and is not too far from now, as you know an angry man they say is hungry man abi. I just hope Reuben can defend his government after he leave office.

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    Replies
    1. When the time comes am very sure you will be running under your bed. I know u are a Yoruba man. So so mouth and shout. U beta let's join hand and work for this country to make it better than your Yoruba man obj left it. Ode oshi.

      Delete
  15. Less I 4get, N 4 all u tlkin trash about abacha being awarded 4 his contribution that's bullshit! Hitller, idiamin n co deserve sm awards too

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  16. Govt of d corrupt by d corrupt n for d corrupt.

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  17. Anonymous 1.16 I am nwannadi and I get liver. Igbo man always get liver ok? Am ever ready to be part of any change in my land.

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  18. My point exactly, it's like taking off Abacha's pix from the wall of past presidents and heads of state like Abacha did not happen to Nigeria. People should just get over this thing o jare

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  19. Crazy dogs biting their own tails.

    Messy government.

    ReplyDelete

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