Chai! My people, wetin dey happen for this our country? President Bola Tinubu don cause wahala again as he don confer Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award to Gilbert Chagoury, wey be billionaire and di President long-time paddy. E be like say na cronyism wey dey show face again for our politics!
As dem dey talk, dem major opposition parties no gree keep quiet. Dem don begin fire on top Tinubu head, saying this move be like say na just show of who know who. The National Publicity Secretary of New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, don yarn say as e be, na wetin we don dey see since two years wey Tinubu dey waka for France wey e don lose touch with wetin citizens dey feel.
”Na di same people wey dey build Eko Atlantic, they fit be friends. Wetin concern una?” – him talk. E even mention say, on top Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Day, Tinubu no show face. E clear say di President no dey follow public opinion at all. Na wah, o!
Bolaji Abdullahi, wey dey represent African Democratic Congress, also come join di gist. E talk say even if Tinubu fit give out national honours, but the way dem dey do am now just dey look like say na personal favor dem dey do. “Our national honours don turn to IOUs, wetin be this?” he ask. E talk say before, people wey dey receive such awards don really contribute to di country, but now na who be your paddy we dey celebrate.
Senator Nenadi Usman from Labour Party come add her voice. She talk say she no sure if Chagoury really do wetin fit make am receive such high honour. “I no dey talk nationality or skin color. Na wetin person don do matter,” she yan. She go even compare Chagoury to Aliko Dangote, wey dey create jobs and dey tackle unemployment. “No be say because dem dey friends, dem go just dey hand over awards like say tomorrow no dey.”
Tinubu don talk say e confer di GCON on Chagoury because of his contributions to progress for the country. But who go believe? As e dey happen, some people dey hail Chagoury, especially Femi Otedola wey describe di honour as well-deserved, praising Chagoury for all di investments for real estate and di marks wey e don leave behind.
Chagoury self, wey don start Chagoury Group since 1971, be Lebanese-Nigerian wey fit show say e get level. But still, na di $11 billion Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway deal dey put us for eye as people dey wonder how dem fit approvem without open bidding process.
Wetin we go call this now? Na case of money and friendship or wetin? We dey watch as all dis drama dey unfold. Make we no forget, we go still dey reason am well before we join any side.
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