The recent decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to honour the acclaimed winner of the 1993 general elections, Chief Moshood Abiola; and his running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, with the highest honour in Nigeria, is a very welcome development. For the first time, Nigerians forgot about ethnicity, religion and other divisive factors and went after their convictions. It is a very bold attempt at sweeping the carpet clean instead of sweeping things under it. But without honouring the man whose strength of character made the exercise second to none, was a serious omission.
Professor Humphrey Nwosu who was the Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) conducted the freest and fairest election in Nigeria. Prof Nwosu went ahead against all odds and threats to life announced the result. If this man had danced to the tune of the then powers that be by not announcing MKO Abiola as the candidate with the highest votes cast on the June 12th 1993 Presidential election, there would not have been any ground for Abiola & Gani Fawehinmi to talk or be given awards today. He deserves Presidential National Honour while still alive than waiting to posthumously receive it.
Nigerians have reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration which Prof. Nwosu was not included in the honour. The Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, Rt. Rev. David Onuoha recently urged President Muhammadu Buhari to include the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in the list of those to be honoured on account of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential elections. A former Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Smart Adeyemi commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour on the winner of the 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola and called on him to extend the honour to other heroes of the struggle for the actualization of the mandate.
In addition, Professor Humphrey Nwosu stating recently that he also deserves to be appreciated. The Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Member representing Nnewi North , Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Hon. Chris Emeka Azubogu also clamoured for the inclusion of Prof. Nwosu in the list of those worthy of honour in view of June 12. A professor of law, Joy Ezeilo had also decried the non-recognition of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the former Chairman of defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria who conducted and announced the June 12th 1993 presidential election result.
Therefore, the Leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of South East Presidency (MASEP) led by Humphrey Onyima, however, identify with those who feel strongly that the man who professed in his field of political science, pushed the concept through all odds and risked his life to provide that excellent election; Prof. Humphrey Nwosu ought to be admitted to the order of GCON, to encourage others in similar circumstances in future.
Humphrey Onyima, the Leader/Founder of the Movement for the Actualization of South East Presidency (MASEP) writes from Enugu
