President Tinubu Faces PDP Criticism Over National Honour Award to Indian Prime Minister Modi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu for conferring the Nigerian national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the second highest in the country, on visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Nigeria-India Bilateral Meeting in Abuja.
Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, described the gesture as a “misplaced priority,” arguing that the honour was unwarranted and questioning its criteria.
“While the President has the right to confer national honours, this should not be done based on mere friendship. What has the Indian Prime Minister done to warrant such recognition?” Osadolor said. He further suggested that Tinubu should focus on learning from India’s economic and technological successes rather than “dishing out unnecessary awards.”
Osadolor pointed out India’s strides in technology and entrepreneurship, highlighting its emergence as a global economic force. He urged the President to leverage the visit to address Nigeria’s economic challenges, suggesting that the focus should be on fostering investments and adopting lessons from India’s rapid development.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) defended the President’s decision. Nze Chidi Duru, APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, dismissed the criticism, stating that Tinubu acted within his prerogative and followed due process.
“It is within the President’s power to confer such awards. The PDP’s opposition lacks substance and should instead focus on contributing to national development,” Duru argued. He added that partnerships with countries like India could bring transformative opportunities for Nigeria.
Prime Minister Modi, who received the honour, commended Nigeria for its strong bilateral relationship with India. During the event, he announced that India would support Nigeria with 20 tonnes of relief materials for communities affected by recent floods.
“We had productive discussions with President Tinubu. There is immense potential for our ties to flourish further in areas like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, and education,” Modi said.
The visit also coincides with increased collaboration between Nigeria and India in security. Nigerian-American security expert Dr. Sylvester Okere, scheduled to attend the 19th Security Leadership Summit in New Delhi, emphasized the significance of the partnership in securing people and assets.
“This visit paves the way for high-level discussions to strengthen cooperation in critical areas,” Okere said.
While the PDP continues to question the rationale for the honour, the administration views it as a symbolic step toward enhancing Nigeria-India relations. The debate underscores contrasting perspectives on balancing national diplomacy with domestic priorities.
