‘Historical Error’ – Tinubu Withdraws CFR, Confers GCON Honour On Speaker Abbas After Rejection

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withdrawn the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) conferred on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The president in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, conferred the nation’s second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, on the Speaker.

This followed criticism that trailed the president’s action, when he conferred the CFR on Abbas during his 64th Independence Anniversary Speech on 1 October.

The house during plenary on Wednesday debated a motion and rejected the conferment which members said was ridiculous having conferred GCON on the President of the Senate and the Chief Justice of the Federation.

The house argued that being the number three citizen, Abbas was entitled to the GCON Honour and called on the president to respect the House of representatives as an institution and the office of the speaker.

A statement to correct what the President said was a historical mistake issued on Friday said, “The President was persuaded by the House of Representatives position and has decided to remedy the historical error and oversight.

“Thus, he has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence.

“The speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will be formally decorated with their new honours later,” the statement said.