IN 2018, Governor orthom has emerged this year “Governor of the Year 2018,” beating other deserving personalities to the prize. The reasons for the award and the qualities that stood Idris out were unambiguously stated. Awards such as this are meant to recognise and celebrate merit; and to encourage and promote attributes and qualities that serve society and the cause of humanity. They must necessarily be rewards for the heroics of individuals that, against all odds, rose above challenges and life-threatening obstacles to perform extra-ordinary feats without which individuals and society as a whole would have suffered untoward and or irreparable losses and our civilization as we know it today would have been imperilled.
Therefore, awards are not to be traded in the open or black market or under the counter; they should not be given to the highest bidder or those willing to pay 500 or 200 thousand US dollars for them to “qualify” for such awards, which are then bestowed with razzmatazz in celebration of deceit and base mercantilism.
I dare to say that this is corruption. Whatever we call it – “President of the Year”, “Governor of the Year”, “Minister of the Year”, and “Banker of the Year” or “Man/Woman of the Year” – awards must clearly state the qualities or heroics that qualify the person eventually chosen.
For instance, the courage and boldness to speak truth to power, confront dangers that imperil, and promote the cause of the common man whose voices have been emasculated by many negative factors stood the late Gani Fawehinmi out during his life time. The irrepressible spirit, the can-do spirit, the never-say-die spirit displayed by the Ransome-Kuti brothers, Fela and Beko, stood them out of the crowd and won them recognition and acclaim. The humility and holy living of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has won him honour and respect home and away; just as what was generally perceived as the Spartan lifestyle of President Muhammadu Buhari eventually landed him the presidency, as citizens reasoned he would give a battered nation going adrift a new lease of life.
Unfortunate as it is that this hope has now turned into ashes in our mouth, it does not in any way vitiate the good intention of many who, acting in good faith, promoted and voted Buhari into office, even though he has now recompensed our good intentions with evil. Witness all over the country the New Year gift of horrendous massacres and bestialities of Fulani herdsmen whose Life Patron Buhari reportedly is! Witness also the president’s consistently tepid response to what should be treated as national calamity! Selfless service and self-sacrifice in promotion of the public good and an uncommon love for his people made the late Nelson Mandela a living legend; same qualities resonating in the political career of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, has written his name in gold to this day.
In the latter days of MKO Abiola, he stood resolute against injustice and died for a just cause, for which he is remembered and celebrated to this day. Today, however, most awards are given for pecuniary considerations. The undeserving is the one who often carts home the award.
