On Sunday, a total of 339 persons were nominated by the federal government to receive national honours.

Davido, Victor Osimhen, and Kunle Afolayan are among the entertainers enlisted as recipients of the awards.

Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat singer, however, took a hit at critics of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration who didn’t reject the national awards.

“Half of the people criticising this government as the worst thing ever deh go collect award for Abuja from the same government?” Kuti had written in a mixture of pidgin and English.

“No one will reject it on principle? Or Buhari don legit? Make una just tell me o. I dey ask for one presidential candidate like that. Next 3 ½ years now we start the same dance again. What do you stand for?”

Although Seun didn’t mention names, AY, in a social media post, said the people asking him to reject the award are “clearly missing a vital point”.

AY, who was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), said a national honour is the highest recognition anyone could get for his or her contributions to nation-building.

The filmmaker said he is more than happy to accept the honour, arguing that Nigeria is bigger than the president or the political party giving the award.

“Those of you shaming or asking me to reject ‘A National Honour’ are clearly missing a vital point. Our country is bigger and more important than any president or political party awarding it,” he wrote.

“A national honour is the highest recognition anyone can get for his or her contributions to nation building.

“So my allegiance is to a country where I have contributed my own quota, and I am more than happy to be rewarded by the same nation.”