By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
A recent decision by the Nigerian Senate to reject a posthumous honour for Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), has been met with widespread criticism. Prof. ABC Nwosu, a former Minister of Health and Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has spoken out against the Senate’s decision, stating that they “erred” and did Prof. Nwosu “wrong” by rejecting the honour.
The elder statesman, Prof ABC Nwosu addressed journalists recently in Abuja.
Prof. Humphrey Nwosu played a crucial role in Nigeria’s democratic history, overseeing the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as the most credible election in Nigeria’s history. Despite this, the Senate’s decision has been seen as a snub to his legacy.
The Senate’s rejection of the motion to honour Prof. Nwosu has been condemned by various groups, including the Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The group’s leader, Chief Omenazu Jackson, described the Senate’s action as “unpatriotic” and a continuation of systemic marginalization against the Igbo people.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who sponsored the motion to honour Prof. Nwosu, expressed his disappointment at the Senate’s decision, stating that Prof. Nwosu laid the groundwork for Nigeria’s current democracy. He emphasized that the government’s failure to honour Prof. Nwosu would not be forgotten and that another government would eventually recognize his contributions.
The controversy surrounding the Senate’s decision has highlighted the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s democratic history and the recognition of key figures who have contributed to the country’s development. As the debate continues, many are left wondering what this decision means for Nigeria’s future and its commitment to honouring its democratic heroes.