Public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on businessman Gilbert Chagoury, describing the decision as controversial and inappropriate.
Reacting in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Shehu lampooned the Tinubu administration, sarcastically suggesting that Chagoury should be appointed as vice president in place of Kashim Shettima.
He further mocked the development by proposing that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, be renamed after Chagoury, while Nigeria itself should be renamed Lebanon.
“Beyond the so-called ‘French gift’ of GCON, Tinubu should appoint Chagoury his vice president and drop Kashim Shettima. He should also rename Abuja as Chagoury enclave and change the name of Nigeria to Lebanon so that the capture circle will be complete and slavery reintroduced,” Shehu wrote.
DAILY POST reports that news of Chagoury’s national honour became public on Monday after billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, congratulated him.
The award has since sparked widespread reactions and criticism across the country. A former spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, also condemned the honour, alleging that it reflects a system where corruption is being celebrated in Nigeria.
