President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, conferred the 2022 National Honours on Senator Bassey Albert (OBA) representing Akwa Ibom North East in the National Assembly and 446 Nigerians and friends of the country.
OBA who is the Akwa Ibom Young Progressives Party governorship candidate and Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources upstream was among eight other Akwa Ibom sons and daughters honoured for their positive contributions to the country’s growth.
The investiture ceremony took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
OBA presented with Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was honoured alongside Ntenyin (Dr) Solomon Daniel Etuk, Oku Ibom Ibibio who got Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
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Senator Ita Enang got Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), Prof. Sylvia G. Akpan (née Essien), Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Prof. Akaneren Idem Essien – OON.
Also conferred with the National honours are Dr. Richard Nyong – OON, Benjamin Okoko, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), Lady Eno Bassey- MFR and Barr. Effiong Okon Akwa – MFR.
Some of the recipients present at the event are Jim Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank; Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank CEO, and Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Others are Mele Kyari, managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited; Nduka Obaigbena, founder of ThisDay and Arise Media Group, and Samson Ayokunle, former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Abba Kyari, the former chief of staff to the president, received a posthumous CFR award which was presented to his daughter.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Ibrahim Gambari, the president’s chief of staff, were also present at the event.
Last weekend, in a leaked list seen by TheCable, a total of 437 persons were nominated by the federal government to receive national honours.
TheCable had reported that the leaked list was inundated with inconsistencies, errors, and the absence of notable names.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki was missing from the list while Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, was nominated to be awarded commander of the order of the Niger (CON) — an honour he was bestowed by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Also, Bayo Ogunlesi, founder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), was erroneously described as the owner of Gatwick Airport.
Amid the controversy TheCable reported that the federal government was set to release an amended list to correct the errors and other inconsistencies.
In the final list, 447 persons were nominated while Fayemi was excluded and Saraki was missing out.
