Jonathan: How We Intend to Realise ‘Great Nigeria Project’

Written by This Day Friday, 23 July 2010

President Goodluck Jonathan said his administration would work tirelessly to realise the ‘Great Nigeria Project’ by promoting the values of honesty, hard-work and patriotism.

Jonathan spoke yesterday in Abuja, at the 2009 National Honours Award where a total 186 recipients were conferred with various categories of awards.

And in response to public criticisms that have trailed the National Merit Award, the President yesterday assured that the Federal Government will henceforth raise the bar for the award of national honours by recognizing only those who merit such honours.
He called on Nigerians to demonstrate patriotism and dedication by participating in processes that would help the nation in successfully surmounting the enormous challenges facing it.

According to him, “We must make honour-inspiring acts part of our national culture. The times call for men and women who are willing to live above primordial loyalties and commit their all to the general good.”

He said that the national honours were part of Nigeria’s national heritage which must be preserved, and promised promised that his administration would work to “raise the bar” so as to challenge Nigerians to strive harder for greater excellence in all fields of human endeavour.

The President stated that Government had noted the critical observations on the national honours recently made by the public and would put such observations to good use in strengthening the prestige and integrity of the awards.

He, however, challenged the recipients to live up to the honours as ambassador of hope and agents of change. He said, “By reason of your decoration today, you have become national ambassadors of hope and agents of change.
“You have an abiding duty to this generation of Nigerians and our common posterity to always live up to the high standards to which you will be held.”

Those honoured yesterday included, among others, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd.), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and Dr. Joseph Wayas who received the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, (GCON).

Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Justice Niki Tobi, the Emir of Gwandu, HRH Alhaji Mohammadu Ilyasu Bashar, the Shehu of Borno, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba and Mrs. Patricia Etteh who received the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.