Dr Reuben Abati opens up on why Abacha was give centenary award

Dr. Reuben Abati, has defended the
posthumous award given to Abacha during
Nigeria’s centenary celebration last week. And according to him, 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. Even Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, 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”. Abati told Saturday PUNCH: “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. 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.”

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