National Honors: Abu Kyari gives a hint on reason for award

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BY ABUBAKAR H. MUHAMMAD, OCTOBER 15, 2022 | 12:11 PM


Senator Abubakar Kyari, North East deputy national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, has given a hint as to what may have earned him national honors.

Mr. Kyari was one of 450 persons conferred with various types of the national honors by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

He was also one of 13 from his state, Borno, which include Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Mele Kyari Kolo and Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), among others.

Before his appointment as the deputy chairman, Mr. Kyari was the chairman senate committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the 8th Senate.

Though he has served in various capacities in politics for about three decades, he said his contribution to reforming the country's Electoral Act may have been, to his mind, one of the major reasons for the award.

'Well, I wouldn't know, I mean spanning over 20 years in politics and service to the country, you will never know. You cannot pinpoint what exactly it is that earned you such recognition and award.

'But if you look at it by and large, one of the turning points for me, especially in the senate, was when I handled the amendment of electoral act, as the chairman of INEC committee and also the bill on electoral act of 2022 which I am a co-sponsor. It was sponsored by Omo Agege and I co-sponsored it,' Sen. Kyari said.

He said this in an exclusive interview with YERWA EXPRESS NEWS in Abuja at a venue of a reception organised for all the 13 awardees from the state.

Speaking on the electoral reforms, he explained that it has potential to 'change the whole landscape of the electoral system.'

While thanking the president for honoring him, he advised Nigerians to be patriotic and put the nation first in all their dealings.

'The award is a recognition of the highest order in the country, I have never seen it coming and I will say it is a welcome surprise and I feel good about it.

'Sometimes in life, you just do what you want to do without seeking attention or definition. Awards come from someone else's observations of what you do, therefore I am not doing anything to get such recognition,' he added.

He advised younger people to put 'Nigeria first and always think about service to the people.

'Do not only think of the present, but what you are going to leave behind and how to achieve our desired developmental goals, not necessarily selfish goals. Let's all be selfless,' he advised.

Sen. Kyari was celebrated at the reception alongside 12 others from Borno State who received different categories of the award.

He was conferred with the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) honors.


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