Ogbonaya Onovo, the Inspector General of Police, was among 186 Nigerians from different strata of the society who were honoured with the 2009 National Award by President Goodluck Jonathan.

But Mr. Onovo, who said he was quite happy at the honour done him, was not impressed with the question from NEXT about whether he thought it was justified for him to get such an award in the face of the rising crime and insecurity in the country.

The police boss, who refused to answer the query, said it was a stupid question meant to provoke him, rather than one “borne out of genuine journalistic curiosity.” He said members of the public should decide if he deserved the award or not.

“Answer it for yourself,” he said. “You are a member of the public. If I don’t deserve it, say so.”

When asked if considering the security concerns in the country, he thought he should be taking this award at this time, he retorted, “Answer it yourself. I can’t answer stupid questions, because insecurity is all over the world. There is no society where there is no crime. You can’t tell me of any society, if you know one, tell me. So, I think it is not a proper question and I will not answer it.

“You have come to provoke. You haven’t come to ask questions as journalists who want to know and who want to disseminate information,” adding, “Your question had spoilt my happy mood.”

However, the questions that so infuriated the usually amiable Mr. Onovo were the sort that reporters had asked all the other awardees.

The 186 recipients included Mike Akhigbe; Aloysius Katsina-Alu; and Joseph Wayas, who received the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger,(GCON).

Others were the chief of staff to the president, Mike Oghiadomhe; the head of service of the federation, Stephen Oronsaye; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Niki Tobi; the emir of Gwandu, Mohammadu Ilyasu Bashar; the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi; Ghali Umar Na’Abba; and Patricia Etteh, who all received the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.

Critical observations

Speaking at the four-hour ceremony, which was attended by families and well wishers of the awardees, Mr Jonathan said overcoming the challenges facing the country can only be achieved with the collective dedication and participation of all patriotic Nigerians.

“We must make honour-inspiring acts part of our national culture. The times call for men and women who are willing to live above primordial loyalties and commit their all to the general good,” he said.

“By reason of your decoration today, you have become national ambassadors of hope and agents of change. You have an abiding duty to this generation of Nigerians and our common posterity to always live up to the high standards to which you will be held,” he told the recipients.

Noting that the national honours are part of Nigeria’s national heritage which must be preserved, Mr. Jonathan promised that his administration will work to “raise the bar” so as to challenge Nigerians to strive harder for greater excellence in all fields of human endeavour.

The award had however come under criticisms, and a number of people have wondered if some recipients had not bought the awards, considering their antecedents.

Mr. Jonathan said at the occasion that the federal government noted the critical observations and will put such observations to good use in strengthening the prestige and integrity of the awards.

The Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. The awards were instituted by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Republic, to honour people who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation.

Predators of the press

Mr. Onovo had undoubtedly led in the search and release of the four journalists who were kidnapped in the south-eastern part of the country recently, and for which the police was widely commended but also vilified for allowing kidnapping to thrive in the country.

Indeed, Mr. Onovo, who received the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), was on May 2010, listed as one of the “40 predators of the press in the world” by the international rights group, Reporters without Borders, during its World Press Day celebration.

According to the group, the names on the list are “powerful, dangerous, violent, and above the law,” thus the nomenclature, “Predators of Press Freedom.”

The group had further blamed the Nigeria Police Force, led by Mr. Onovo, for making the country “one of the world’s most violent countries for journalists.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5597784-146/onovo_snaps_over_questions_about_his.csp

“You have come to provoke. You haven’t come to ask questions as journalists who want to know and who want to disseminate information,” adding, “Your question had spoilt my happy mood.

Really?
I wish one of the politics here would say something like that, esp to a serious question like that.

Nigerian politicians and officials have neither shame nor integrity.

The journalist should go and ask other awardees if they deserve the award. Onovo is not the cause of crime in the country.The political class is resposible for the poverty and unemployment in the country and should be blamed for the recent rise in crimes.

A simple question was asked: DO YOU THINK YOU DESERVE SUCH AWARD  in the face of the rising crime and insecurity in the country."

He could have professionally and politely find a way to answer the question, by sidetracking it. That's what politics is all about. It doesnt matter who the question was asked. . . what matters is the ability to maintain self-control and represent ones self in public.

Read his answer again and tell me if you sensed any professional atmosphere in it

Ego and lack of criticism are major causes of failure. Onovo should have answered that question amicably and many more including hopeful / reassuring plans for the future henceforth.

Patricia Etteh?

The journalist should go and ask other awardees if they deserve the award.[quote] Onovo is not the cause of crime in the country

.The political class is responsible for the poverty and unemployment in the country and should be blamed for the recent rise in crimes.[quote][/quote]
haba mr wale, onovo wasn't employed y.terda.
the man is at the top .what do you think his responsibilities are?
yes he might not be the cause but he is now to stop the rot.

The IG comes across as one who does not choose his words carefully.  Remember the Nuhu Ribadu case, his statements on the kidnapped journalists, etc? So it's right to have crime here because there is crime in other parts of the world? He should simply compare the crime rate when he came in with the current rate and see if he deserves the award or not.

wales:

The journalist should go and ask other awardees if they deserve the award. Onovo is not the cause of crime in the country.The political class is resposible for the poverty and unemployment in the country and should be blamed for the recent rise in crimes.

I think what we need is a solution to the problem.  In any case, every problem must have a source.  It's the solution that Onovo should strive to proffer and quit honourably if he's unable to fix the problem.

ONOVE deserve the award.

If he didnt warn those kidnappers to release the journalists, those fraudulent journalists would still be in the custody of the kidnappers.

Congrats Mr. Onovo.

^^^,
was that a joke?

^^^
Did you see a laughing smiley in that post?

If he didnt warn those kidnappers to release the journalists
so his 24 hr altimatum did the trick?

, those fraudulent journalists would still be in the custody of the kidnappers.
fraudulent in what way, poven till guilty they say.
or we are now bound by heresay/conjectures.

Ileke-IdI:

A simple question was asked: DO YOU THINK YOU DESERVE SUCH AWARD  in the face of the rising crime and insecurity in the country."

This was how the question was put.

Considering the state of security concerns in the country do you think you should be taking this award at this time?
Onovo: Answer it yourself, I can’t answer stupid questions, because insecurity is all over the world.There is no society where there is no crime, tell me of any society, if you know one tell me, so I think it is not a proper question and I will not answer it. You have come to provoke me, you haven’t come to ask questions as journalists who want to know and who want to disseminate information.
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/23/national-07-23-2010-003.htm

It was a rhetorical question. The guy was insinuating that Onovo does not deserve the award and I think that wasnt professional.
I agree with Onovo in this one, The journalist was only trying to provoke him by saying he doesn't deserve the award.
FOI doesn't mean you should ask question just provoke the listener.

The guy was insinuating that Onovo does not deserve the award and I think that wasnt professional

alhaji ibro, let cut to the chase now, do we; the service user think onovo deserve the award?
not in a mill. .yrs.

3 million naira in the trunk of the car belonging to journalists whose travel expenses were just 100,000Naira?? Negro Please.

On the Onovo threat issue, I was kidding. You should be able to see sacarsm when you read one. No person of the uniform in Nigeria deseres an award. Not the Police, Army, Navy, Airforce, Customs, Immigrations, Prisons, Civil Defense, Federal Road Safety Corp, none of em'.

ode remo:

alhaji ibro, let cut to the chase now, do we; the service user think onovo deserve the award?
not in a mill. .yrs.

I think he does deserve it!
You have to understand how this awards are given. At times they are given because of the office you've attain.
Example. GCON It is given automatically to a past president once he leaves his office.

Okija_juju:

ONOVE deserve the award.

If he didnt warn those kidnappers to release the journalists, those fraudulent journalists would still be in the custody of the kidnappers.

Congrats Mr. Onovo.

ROTFL

Warn ke?

Obese pig

his people should be ashamed of him!! several years in the job you still cant avoid journalist question

was he not the same Obese officer that says he want proof Ribadu was in the country?

the pig should be ran over by a truck!

Does Onovo want us to remind him all the stupid remarks and actions he has taken since becoming IG? Has he forgotten about the Proof of picture evidence? Yeye man. Just collect your stupid award and go sidon.

Onovo is a force man not a politician and therefore should not be expected to twist words or lie in the name of being friendly with journalists.

Journalists can be annoying sometimes and can ask provoking questions. Obasanjo even as civilian President has severally replied journalists in worse replies than this, because he knows sometimes they can ask you questions in order to get you infuriated.

Come to think of it, Is it Onovo that is the cause of the crime? Ever since, i was a kid, what the society (the world at large)has been battling with is how to curb various crime, there has not been any society that has completely rid itself of crimes. Before Onovo entered, we have been battling with this kidnapping thing in the Niger Delta, people dared coming back home, the Jos crisis and other religious crisis has always been there, bank robbery has always been there, so I believe this is a phase and Nigerian govt will always do her best to curb the various crimes. I believe Onovo is doing his best to curtail the kidnapping thing and reduce the crime in Nigeria.

i thing is for sure. most of the information you get as concerns kidnapping and and everyother matter in nigeria is controlled. the police wont come out to tell u that they paid ransom to kidnappers as this will make them the laughing stock of the int'l community(not like they are'nt already). it is more convenient for them to say that the kidnappers collected 3mil from the journalists.by the way who travels with such cash in these days of online banking? everytime hostages are released, it is because"the police gave them a hot chase". negro puuleeez! and in this case, isnt it rather questionable that there was a police checkpoint about 400meters from the kidnap spot? onovo u are a public official and shd know how to manouver missiles when they are aimed at u. the juornalist asked a simple question which is reflective of the collective thinking of nigerians at this time. put up or shut up man!

if the question was to provoke him well it obviously work for the piglet, these pigs dont like being questioned

Why cant onovo tell us how many people the police have successful prosecuted for kidnapping, how many people they have arrested since the jos crisis, how many police man have been prosecuted for killing civillians and how many have been dismissed for collecting bribes in broad daylight, THATS HOW TO JUSTIFY YOUR AWARD, but the fat pig who under SA police rule would have been sacked for being obese is getting upset oloshi trailer will jam him on his way home at a police checkpoint

Ibro Yaya:



It was a rhetorical question. The guy was insinuating that Onovo does not deserve the award and I think that wasnt professional.
I agree with Onovo in this one, The journalist was only trying to provoke him by saying he doesn't deserve the award.
FOI doesn't mean you should ask question just provoke the listener.

it wasnt rhetoric. besides, has he not provoked nigerians more with his stupid reply? we expect better from our public officers. uncle ibro, nigerians are not muggs.

Mkpotu:

Come to think of it, Is it Onovo that is the cause of the crime? Ever since, i was a kid, what the society (the world at large)has been battling with is how to curb various crime, there has not been any society that has completely rid itself of crimes. Before Onovo entered, we have been battling with this kidnapping thing in the Niger Delta, people dared coming back home, the Jos crisis and other religious crisis has always been there, bank robbery has always been there, so I believe this is a phase and Nigerian govt will always do her best to curb the various crimes. I believe Onovo is doing his best to curtail the kidnapping thing and reduce the crime in Nigeria.

Award is given to achievers ,
No light - New Manager ensures constant power which was deemed impossible. 
Foreign powers toying with the country, somebody becoming Defense Minister, Foreign Minister story changes
etc,
etc,
etc, all deserve award

Not because somebody has attained a certain position.

Onovo you no merit am full stop

Ogiadomhe of Edo?
patricia Etteh
Onovo ke!

was the award meant o Ridicule them?

Ogbonaya Onovo the worlds biggest illiterate !!!!!! honestly he must be to react in that manner

In Phc there is a toll gate in front of all the police stations.  Police station being on your street/road is like a curse because you pay more for transport fare and there is no benefits of protection as robbers easily rob people living on those streets/roads.

along some major roads, there is police check point every 200 meters interval (accurary +0.00001mm)

and even if the journalist was provoking him, as an educated man of authority he should have answered in a more diplomatic way

Onovo is a public servant, he should have answered that question intelligently instead of showing his degree of annoyance to the journalist, though the question insinuates something but he would have handled it intelligently.