South East Caucus of the Senate, led by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an advocate of the June 12 election to Honour the former INEC Chairman, Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
This appeal followed a motion presented by Senator Abaribe at the Senate plenary, though most of its prayers were rejected.
Briefing newsmen after the debate, Senator Abaribe stated that Professor Humphrey Nwosu had made tremendous contributions to the development of democratic governance in Nigeria.
Abaribe argued that without conducting the election, the issue of June 12 would not have arisen. Therefore, the architectural designer and founder of the INEC headquarters, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, should be honored in that respect.
He said that although the two prayers of the motion, which included a demand for the Senate to recommend that the Federal Government name the INEC headquarters after Professor Nwosu and honour him with a national posthumous award were rejected, they would not relent in their agitation.
He expressed hope that if this government did not recognize Humphrey Nwosu’s contribution to the development of democracy in the country, another government would eventually do so.
However, he noted that as far as the South East Caucus is concerned, Humphrey Nwosu deserves to be honored because he is the founding father of the INEC headquarters and the man who championed the June 12 elections in 1993—without which the significance of June 12 would not have arisen in Nigeria.
Also commenting, Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West, who fully participated in the election at the time, said the 1993 election was conducted freely and fairly, with only Taraba State’s result remaining before its annulment. He argued that without the audacity and courage of INEC Chairman Humphrey Nwosu, the election would not have taken place.
Earlier, those who opposed the prayers during the debate such as Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Senator Olamilekan, to mention a few based their argument on the claim that Professor Humphrey Nwosu lacked the courage and boldness to announce the election results, which ultimately led to its annulment.
To them professor Humprey Nwosu shouldn’t be honoured not to talk of immortalizing the INEC headquarters in his name but the senate respected his demise with a one.minutes silence in his honour.
The Senate after this thursday’s sitting adjourned to April 29th for Sallah break.
COV /Bashir M
