Activist slams Alia’s Aide for Criticizing Prof. Sebastine Tar Hon, SAN
Aondona Donatus Mkor, a Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, has been criticized for his recent statement against Professor Sebastine Tar Hon, a renowned Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Professor Hon had analyzed and criticized Governor Alia’s media remarks on the ECOWAS Protocol in his personally signed statement.
The Governor’s aide, Mkor rose in defence of his principal the governor and attempted to disparage Chief Hon and his professorial attainment.
Reacting in a write-up earlier today, a public affairs commentator, Samuel Tivta, described Mkor’s comments against Prof Hon as puerile as the comments portrayed a crass lack of understanding of how the system works.
Tivta further pointed out that Mkor failed to acknowledge that many notable figures, including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and literary giants like Chinua Achebe and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, have achieved professorial status without a PhD.
The statement reads:
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping folks who hitherto could not construct even a bad sentence. But despite the advent of AI which is today common on every Android supported device, the idle man known as Aondona Donatus Mkor who is a Special Adviser to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia is unable to put the technological innovation to good use. This is because AI has a similar concept with a computer – garbage in, garbage out (GIGO): poor quality input will produce faulty output.
Mkor is a classical example of the saying ‘empty vessels make the most noise’.
“The above scenario is what happened to Mkor when he attempted to respond to the ever erudite Professor of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Sebastine Tar Hon, who a few days ago wrote an impeccable article faulting Mkor’s principal, Governor Alia on his media outing regarding the ECOWAS Protocol. I will return to the AI and Mkor matter later.
“Mkor, in the characteristic of a virulent and uncultured Alia supporter, left the message and launched vitriol on the messenger- the person of Prof Hon questioning his qualification to be addressed as a professor. Only a shallow minded person who lacks the knowledge of how a particular thing works still claims to know it.
“Mkor is apparently not aware that it is not everyone who is a professor duly awarded by a university that is a PhD holder. For instance, Professor Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate does not have a PhD, but is a professor. Soyinka’s professorship is based on his literary achievements and contributions to knowledge, not on holding a PhD.
“Below is a list of global icons who were/are professors without PhDs:
Chinua Achebe – a literary giant and professor with many honorary doctorates. Professor Achebe did not possess a formal PhD.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o – a professor and renowned Kenyan academic, known for his works in literature. He has no PhD.
Ayi Kwei Armah – a professor and popular Ghanaian novelist and essayist. He doesn’t have a PhD.
John Dewey – a professor and renowned philosopher and educator, known for his works in educational reform and pragmatism. Dewey did not have a PhD.
Richard Feynman – a professor and famous physicist and Nobel Laureate, did not hold a PhD.
B.F. Skinner – a professor and influential psychologist known for his work in behaviorism. He did not have a PhD.
Jeffrey Gitomer – a professor, sales expert and motivational speaker who has taught and influenced many in business and sales without a PhD.
“Aondona Mkor arrogantly but ignorantly tried to disparage Prof Hon over his professorship and forgot to do a simple search to find out that there is something known as Professor of Practice which is an academic title given to individuals who have significant professional experience in a particular field but may not have the traditional academic qualifications, such as a Ph.D.
“Mkor asked AI to help him critique Prof Hon’s unassailable piece but it was clear that his input failed to produce the quality of what could go close to elucidation of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria’s presentation. It was a rambling and verbose write-up generated from AI that addressed none of the issues raised by Prof Hon bordering on the ECOWAS Protocol which exposed the unpreparedness of Governor Alia to tackle the security challenge faced by Benue State.
“Let me refer the loquacious Mkor to other legal luminaries in the country such as Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and Yusuf Ali, SAN, who are not university lecturers but have made huge contributions to law practice in the country and have also been awarded the rank of Professor of Practice by the same university – Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FOUYE), that awarded Chief Tar Hon, SAN.
“The fact that the likes of Mkor have the guts today to throw mud at Prof Hon only goes to show that a prophet indeed has no honour in his native land.
“Mkor is obviously still nursing a grudge against the erudite Chief Hon, who, as the-then the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Benue State University, Makurdi, being a refined man who wouldn’t want to dent his reputation, refused to influence/stop the investigation and eventual sack of Mkor as a lecturer at the university on account of sexual harassment and attempted rape of an innocent student.
“More than a decade ago, Prof Sabastine Hon, through hard work, dedication, humility and the fear of God, broke into the league of well respected and highly rated household names in the legal profession of Nigeria. He is a man who has distinguished himself among his contemporaries in terms of character, competence, courage, credibility and integrity. Indeed, these sterling qualities are the hallmarks of greatness and have also endeared him to the people within and beyond the country.
“A man of many good parts, Prof Hon is well known for his legal prowess. He is also a prolific author, dynamic and versatile consultant of Constitutional Law, philanthropist and a deep rooted Christian with many books to his name.
“Perhaps the views of former Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, about Chief Hon can help Mkor to better understand the rating of this illustrious son of Benue State:
“Since 2013 when I started reading books written by Sabastine Hon, I have discovered that he is fearless and forthright. He discusses topics not covered by any other author in Nigeria and takes a strong position, backed up with good arguments. He is still a young man and I believe the sky is just his beginning. I am a Professor of the Law of Evidence. I used to think I was the wisest when it comes to the Law of Evidence, but since I started reading S.T Hon’s Book on Evidence, I have realized he is wiser than me. I honestly commend him for the weighty contributions he has made to the development of law in Nigeria,” Prof Osinbajo stated.
The next time Aondona Mkor eats a mountain of akpu with iced-fish or kpomo, he should go belch and fart to excel the foul gas where persons of his kind are seated.
Prof Sebastine Hon gande chichi i mbayev”, Tivta concluded.
