National honours should be given to entrepreneurs, not politicians – Peter Obi

The Labour Party flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has faulted the trend of conferring national honours on politicians, calling on the Federal Government to recognise individuals who have made tangible contributions to national development instead.

Obi, a former Anambra State Governor, made the call while speaking at the public presentation of 'The Chronicles of a Legend,' a biography of business magnate and philanthropist Gabriel Igbinedion in Abuja on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

He advocated for a review of the process of national awards conferment, noting that entrepreneurs should be prioritised for recognition.

“The Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, should be for entrepreneurs and productive people, not politicians,” Obi said, adding, “We have to change the way we honour people.”

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Obi lauded Igbinedion for his impactful contributions in key sectors such as aviation, education, and cultural preservation, maintaining that individuals of his ilk are more deserving of national honours and greater public recognition.

“We live in a country where we celebrate people who are supposed not to be celebrated. If we did, the celebration we are giving him today would have been more,” Obi stated.

Highlighting Igbinedion’s role in job creation, the Labour Party chieftain noted that the businessman employed thousands of Nigerians, arguing that the country would have witnessed more employment if it prioritised production.

“If we had been a country that was productive, over 20 million Nigerians would have been employed because Igbinedion employed over 17,000 Nigerians,” he added.

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