Sen. Abaribe Still Hopeful Prof Humphrey Nwosu Will Be Honoured
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has expressed his dissatisfaction after the Nigerian Senate failed to fully honor Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the key figure behind the 1993 June 12 presidential election, which is widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. Abaribe, who has been a vocal advocate for the recognition of figures who played significant roles in Nigeria’s democratic journey, addressed the issue following the Senate’s refusal to endorse his three requests.
One of Abaribe’s primary proposals was to recommend that the executive rename the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in honor of Professor Nwosu. Nwosu, who was in charge of the election process in 1993, laid the groundwork for what would later be known as the historic June 12 election before the military regime dissolved the National Electoral Commission (NEC). Abaribe emphasized that it was Nwosu’s foundation that ultimately paved the way for the return of civilian rule in Nigeria.
This call for recognition was made in alignment with remarks made by Professor Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, who noted in a recent colloquium that it was shocking that Nwosu had yet to be honored by the government, despite his foundational contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process. According to Abaribe, the lack of recognition for Nwosu was a grave oversight, especially considering the historical importance of the 1993 election and the fact that the annulment of the results led to significant political unrest in Nigeria, ultimately contributing to the end of military rule in 1999.
Despite the setback, Abaribe remains hopeful, asserting that while this government may not recognize Nwosu’s contributions, a future administration will. He drew parallels to the eventual recognition of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, despite initial resistance from previous governments. Abaribe is confident that the time will come when Nwosu’s legacy will be properly acknowledged.
