Governors of the South East states are to meet President Bola Tinubu to press for a posthumous honour for the chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, stated this yesterday at the funeral ceremony of the late chairman of the electoral umpire at the latter’s Ajali country home in Orumba-North local government area of the state.
The late Professor superintended the June 12, 1993 election adjudged to be the freest, most credible and transparent election in the history of Nigeria but annulled by the then military administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB).
The presumed winner of the poll was the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola.
The Nigerian Senate had a day before the burial ceremony of Professor Nwosu refused that Nwosu deserved a national honour.
The Senate’s refusal for Nwosu to be bestowed with a national honour had thrown the upper chamber of the National Assembly into chaos as senators from the Southeast zone walked out of plenary in protest.
But Soludo in his speech during the funeral of Nwosu assured that governors from the region would visit the presidency to demand a national honour for Nwosu.
At the event, the governor also promised that the old Aguata zone of the state comprising three local government areas: Aguata, Orumba-North and Orumba-South would honour Nwosu with a monument.
The minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi represented President Tinubu at the funeral ceremony.
Soludo said, “We must learn to change our style and devise a style of dialogue to get what we need from the government at the centre and not through fighting and attacks.”
On his part, Umahi explained that Mr President has so much value for the late Professor Nwosu.
“We are celebrating him for his profound contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and we shall continue to cherish him and his achievements.
“This is because he played very vitals roles in the evolvement of Nigeria’s democracy and governance and while we are here, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation called. He told me that the family made two requests and that after discussions, they would be granted and when that is done, I will communicate to your governor about the outcome,” he said.
Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti observed that “Nigeria is celebrating an icon of our democracy and that is why I came to join my brother Prof Soludo to honour this great Nigerian who wrote his name in the sand of time. I pray that at the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, it would be a triumph for our brother, the late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.”
Retired Anglican Bishop, Emmanuel Chukwuma described Sen Oshiomole statement about the late Professor as absurd.
“That statement by Oshiomole is ridiculous because Humphrey Nwosu did not annul the June 12 election and former President Babangida has owned up.
“Until Nigerians apologise to the late Abiola and the late Humphrey Nwosu, their spirits will not rest,” he said.
In his sermon, Bishop of Aguata Diocese Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Samurai Chukwudi Ezeofor lamented what he described as the “hopeless fate of the Nigerian nation” contending that the dreams and aspirations of the country have been shattered.
Other dignitaries at the funeral included Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha and Sen Victor Umeh.
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