Tinubu decorated with living legend Award.

At a colourful ceremony attended by dignitaries in Lagos, Silverbird Communication on Sunday night honoured All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with the Extra-ordinary Man of the Year Award for setting standard for good governance.

The packed hall hailed as Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, received the award, his face wreathed in smiles.

Introducing Tinubu to the huge audience at Eko Hotel, the chairman of the occasion, Mr Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), said Tinubu used his tenure to transform Lagos into a modern city.

“Tinubu began a revolution in Lagos; he made Lagos more livable; he transformed Lagos through planning; he set standards for governance in Nigeria. Beyond Lagos, he has taken his vision to the national level. The same planning we see in Lagos has been taken to the national level.”

Justifying the choice of Tinubu for the star award, Ajumogobia, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said with the challenges in Nigeria, we should go beyond partisan politics.

Replying, Tinubu said “a nation cannot achieve progress without planning and I am committed to that plan towards making Nigeria great. According to him, the plans for the country’s development must be made regardless of partisan politics”.

“We must also be committed to that plan to drive success and development and that is what we must do together as a nation. But we, as Nigerians, must persevere, endure and have a pain now in order to have a better tomorrow. Let us turn our challenge of today to prosperity of the future. We can achieve it”, the APC leader said.

Silverbird Chairman, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce noted that the youth lack information about what happened in the country in the past. Tinubu said the common sense solution is to sponsor a bill in the National Assembly that history must be reinstated in our school curriculum.

He said: “My friend Ben, you have been elected senator; don’t complain; sponsor a bill for the reintroduction of history as a subject in our schools.  My darling wife, who is the pillar of the success we are celebrating today, will support you and I am sure Nigerians will support you.”

Besides, he said we can digitalise Nigerian information through which youths and Nigerians in general can have access to all information about the country. Digitalisation will stop piracy. “If they had saved money for 36 jeeps for the senators and invest it in digitalisation of information, it would have solved the problem”, Tinubu said.

Tinubu said moving from analogue to digitalisation to protect the history and records of the country will be of great benefit to unborn generations. As information technology is improving every day, we can digitalise Nigeria where the country’s archives or history is preserved, he added.

Murray-Bruce suggested that 10 per cent of the annual budget should be allocated to preserving the country’s history and culture. He said we have to start teaching history in Nigeria because we cannot develop or grow as a country without the concept of history.

On the award for Tinubu, Murray-Bruce said: “We decided to give the award to a man who has the interest of the nation uppermost in his heart. He described Tinubu a great and patriotic Nigeria.

Other awardees include the doyen of Accounting profession in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams; oil and gas magnate Chief O. B. Lulu Briggs; first civilian governors of  Lagos and Kaduna states, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, frontline businessman Oba Otudeko; juju maestro King Sunny Ade and renowned musician Sir Victor Uwaifo.

In the class of post humous awardees were the first Governor-General of the old Eastern Region, Dr 
Akanu Ibiam; the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; first 
civilian governor of old Rivers State Chief Melford Okilo; former Premier of the old Western Region Chief Ladoke Akintola and former Chief of Army Staff Major Gen. Tunde Idiagbon.

Dignitaries at the ceremony include Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Information and Culture Minister Lai Muhammed, former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba; former Lagos State Deputy Governor Chief Femi Pedro and Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, who represented Governor Akinwumi Ambode.

There were also former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi;  former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo; Senator Adeola Olamilekan, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Chief Yomi Akintola; Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi; former Lagos State Speaker Chief Adeyemi IKuforiji; Deputy Speaker Wasiu Esinlokun Sani; former Commissioner for Information and Strategy Dele Alake; one-time Finance Commissioner Wale Edun and Alhaji Kashim Imam.

Others are Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment Akintola Benson; Hon Lola Akande (Women Affairs) Hon Seye Oladejo (Special Duties); Mr Joe Igbokwe, Lagos APC spokesman, Mr Tony Okoroje; Mr Ralph Uwanike, Mr Bisi Olatilo, Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Mr Olakunle Ojo, Hon Bimbo Daramola and Mr Jasper Olawumi.