Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, yesterday, again called for restructuring of the country, saying it would end the nation’s culture of do-or-die politics.
He said for Nigeria to overcome its present challenges and move forward, there was the need for restructuring of Nigeria’s governance architecture.
Anyaoku spoke as the chairman of the 14th annual The Sun Awards held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said restructuring would lead positively to the stability of the nation and stressed that doing so would bring to an end the current do-or-die mindset of politicians to control all the political structures in the country.
His words: “Nigeria will not realise its full potentials and overcome its present major challenges unless and until it restructures its governance architecture.”
Anyaoku expressed confidence that changing the landscape of Nigeria’s political system would usher in the much-desired economic development across the country.
He extolled The Sun for instituting the annual award, saying that it was one of the company’s finest ways of contributing its own quota to the promotion of progressive values in Nigeria. He described the awardees as Nigerians of great distinction that deserved to be honoured. He praised them for displaying sincerity and hard work in their chosen fields.
He charged them to continue to give their best, stressing that the essence of the award was for them to strive harder to affect Nigerians and Nigeria positively in all ramifications.
The renowned diplomat thanked The Sun for honouring him to chair the occasion, and poured encomiums on the Publisher and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for creating the platform to encourage Nigerians both in private and public sectors, as well as enriching Nigeria’s democracy.
He described The Sun as a strong brand that had won the hearts of Nigerians, irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliations.
He said: “If the awardees can keep getting better as individuals in what they do, Nigeria will be better for it. They have demonstrated excellence in their various chosen professions and Nigeria at large. As the awardees are encouraged tonight, it is a call for them to do more. The award is a great encouragement to the winners, which is a welcome development.”
The chairman charged the media, especially the social media, to focus more on investigative journalism and factual reporting. He advised journalists against distortion or exaggeration of facts in discharging their duties.
This award is for Nigerians –Dogara
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has described his award as the Political Icon of The Year as an award for Nigerians,
The Speaker was honoured yesterday alongside 18 other Nigerians for their contributions to national development at the 14th edition of The Sun Awards. Dogara, who was represented by the Chief Whip of House of Representatives, Hon. Ado Doguwa lauded The Sun Newspaper for recognizing the contributions of the awardees.
“This is a well-deserved award for Speaker Yakubu Dogara, a well-deserved award for the House of Representatives; it is a well-deserved award for the National Assembly and for Nigerians in general,” Doguwa said.
I feel privileged to be recognised by The Sun –Tony Ezenna
Chairman of Orange Drugs Group, Chief Tony Ezenna, has said that he feels privileged to be identified by The Sun newspapers.
Ezenna made the statement yesterday at The Sun Awards in Lagos.
The renowned industrialist, who bagged the Manufacturer of the Year Award, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the organisers, while confessing that he feels privileged to receive such award of high repute. “I am happy to be recognised today.
It is not the award per se that interests me but the privilege to be recognised by The Sun is a very big deal.
We are so happy it happened. The Sun is a very good brand and what attracts me to The Sun is the page three girl and that is what has attracted a lot of other people so much that every day, we look forward to seeing The Sun newspaper,” he said.
I’m motivated to do better –Shehu Dikko
Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) Shehu Dikko has lauded The Sun for acknowledging his contributions to the development of Nigerian football. Dikko who scooped Sport Personality of the Year at the 14th edition of The Sun Awards said the award would motivate him to aspire to surpass his current performance. “I feel good. It’s a privilege to be honoured by The Sun. The award is not for me alone; it is for everybody in the Nigerian football. I believe this will be a motivation for us to do better and surpass what we are doing at the moment. It is a well-deserved award for everybody in the Nigerian football,” Dikko said.
The Sun Award is a challenge to me to deliver more –Amosun
Winner of The Sun Man of the Year, Governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, has said the award was a challenge to him to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
At the award held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos State, Amosun said the award was not for him alone, but for the people of Ogun State, whom he said made the achievements so far possible.
While commending The Sun for choosing him for the award, he charged the newspaper brand to continue to do that which it finds worthy and crucial to deepen Nigeria’s democratic and social values.
“This award is not for me but for the good people of Ogun State who have been solidly behind this government. Let me also thank every other person who has been there for us. I will also thank my wife because when you bag such an award, you know that it wouldn’t have happened but for the support from my wife.
“Once again, l thank everyone for the award and I am happy to be the recipient,” he said.
…It humbles me, says Maduka
Winner of The Sun Investor of the Year Award, the Founder/President of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, yesterday, said he was completely humbled by the award bestowed on him by the company. He said the award, which challenged him to be more industrious, also served as a reminder of the greater responsibilities ahead of him as an investor in Nigeria. He said he was delighted and fulfilled to have inspired a lot of young people through his investments in Nigeria and outside the country. “The award shows that whatever one has as an investment, it is not for the individual but for the society at large. “Recently I saw a documentary being showed in Ivory Coast, of how my investment has affected people. It is a great privilege for me to be recognised The Sun tonight,” he said.