From Marcel Chuks, Owerri
A social and political analyst, Dr Charles Ogugbuaja has said that Governor Alex Otti’s rejection of Awards while in office is a demonstration of a true democrat.
In a press statement on the issue, Ogugbuaja, who is also a renowned journalist, stated that the issue of plaque tilted awards giving is becoming bastardized in Nigeria, in the United States where such activity was mostly copied has test of the time ratings. It is not also, incessant as we have in this country. Many institutions, no matter how big or small are on daily basis issuing honours awards to people
He emphasised that many recipients of such awards spend billions of naira to defray the cost of receiving them. This is money that should have been expended on meaningful life enhancing activities for the good of the common people.
Adding that way it is now, many institutions, associations, individuals and groups, even media houses are on daily basis organizing honours awards ceremonies, issuing plaques to people they feel like doing so, while in return they expect huge monetary rewards from the recipients, mostly politicians, public office holders and captains of industry, even questionable characters.
Ogugbaja further disclose that it is to the extent that in Nigeria, it appears to be that “awards selling” business is going on. Once the givers Identify money bags, they go after them, organizing ceremonies and pronouncing the awardees as having distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavours.
“The most annoying part of this frolic activity is the involvement of some media houses in participating in this seemingly embarrassing venture.
“The media have serious constitutional, ethical and professional roles of holding the government officials accountable to the people. The primary watchdog roles embodying information gathering, entertainment and education activities are expected of the media. They seem to paying little attention to the roles in preference to issuance of awards to the class of individuals mentioned above”
He also stated that it is regrettably, some media outfits operating at various levels in Nigeria have abdicated the above roles in preference to hobnobbing with the class of people they issue awards to, saying it is abhorred and condemnable.