Abuja, Nigeria – Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for a radical shift in Nigeria’s national honours system, urging the government to prioritize entrepreneurs and productive citizens over politicians for top awards like the GCFR and GCON.
Key Points from Obi’s Speech
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Award Reform: “National honours should go to job creators like Igbinedion, not just officeholders.”
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Igbinedion’s Legacy: Praised the billionaire for employing 17,000+ Nigerians across aviation, education.
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Productivity Crisis: “If Nigeria prioritized production, we’d have 20M+ more jobs today.”
“We celebrate the wrong people,” Obi declared at the launch of The Chronicles of a Legend, a biography of business mogul Gabriel Igbinedion. “Imagine if we honoured those who actually build economies.”
Why This Matters
Current System: 80% of GCFR/GCON recipients since 1999 have been politicians or civil servants.
Obi’s Vision: Align national honours with tangible economic impact (e.g., factories built, jobs created).
2027 Buzz: Speech fuels speculation about Obi’s next political moves.
