The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed President Bola Tinubu for conferring the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second-highest national honor, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition party called the gesture a “misplaced priority” and questioned the rationale behind bestowing such a prestigious award on a foreign leader.
Timothy Osadolor, PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, criticized the move, arguing that it did little to address Nigeria’s urgent domestic issues. “National honors should not be handed out frivolously in the name of friendship,” Osadolor said. “It’s unclear what significant contribution the Indian Prime Minister has made to warrant this recognition. This is one of our highest national awards, and it seems unjustified.”
Osadolor suggested that instead of offering accolades, President Tinubu could have used the opportunity to learn from Modi’s economic strategies. “It would have made more sense for Tinubu to engage Modi on how India has transitioned from poverty to becoming one of the fastest-growing economies. Indian leaders dominate global tech companies, and their presence in Silicon Valley is substantial. Instead of giving unnecessary awards, Tinubu should have sought guidance on how to strengthen Nigeria’s economy,” he added.
In contrast, Nze Chidi Duru, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defended the President’s decision, insisting that it was well within Tinubu’s authority to confer such an honor. Duru urged the PDP to focus on constructive criticism rather than what he called “political distractions.”
“The important questions are whether there is a precedent for this kind of award and whether the President has the power to grant it. The answer to both is yes, so it falls under his discretion,” Duru stated. He further argued that the PDP should direct its energy towards proposing solutions for critical issues like economic growth and support for businesses, rather than nitpicking over symbolic gestures.
Duru concluded by emphasizing that the opposition party should prioritize addressing the nation’s pressing needs, such as food security and economic development, instead of fixating on what he termed minor controversies.
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