The federal government, on Monday, distanced itself from the list of nominees for national honours being circulated by media organisations.
According to the list already making the rounds, the government has penciled 437 Nigerians for the national honours awards, at an event slated for October 11, at the State House, Abuja.
The list is made up of names of politicians, public officers, security officers, businessmen, traditional rulers, members of the academia, retired public officers, religious leaders and musical artistes.
In the list is the former chief of staff to the president, the late Abba Kyari, will receive the posthumous honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.
Others listed for posthumous recognition include the late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who would receive Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON); the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, CFR; the late scholar, Bala Usman, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the late activist, Gambo Sawaba, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
The awardees also include President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, nephew, Mamman Daura; his personal assistant, Sabiu Yusuf (Tunde); in-law, the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasir Bayero, and the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo.
Others are the state house chief of protocol, Lawal Kazaure; the president’s aide on domestic affairs, Sarki Abba; his spokesman, Femi Adesina; personal physician, Sanusi Rafindadi; and state house administrative officer, Abubakar Maikano.
However, the government said in a statement that by the spokesperson, federal ministry of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, Ms. Julie Jacobs that it would publish the authentic list at the appropriate time.
“The attention of the federal ministry of special duties and intergovernmental affairs has been drawn to a purported list of nominees for national honours being circulated by some online media organisations.
“While it is true that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, will be conferring national honours on deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria on October 11, 2022, the authentic list of nominees is yet to be released to the public. The federal ministry of special duties and intergovernmental affairs will publish the list at the appropriate time and medium.
“Members of the public are hereby enjoined to discountenance the list in circulation as it is an attempt by overzealous reporters whose aim is to break news even when such news is fake,” the statement said.
