The senate has rejected a motion to immortalise late Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Gatekeepers News reports that the motion sponsored by Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, seeks to name the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja after him.
The motion which was stalled on Wednesday, was debated extensively on Thursday. It however didn’t gather enough support.
Abaribe argued that Nwosu, who oversaw the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, deserved recognition for his role in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Cyril Fasuyi, senator representing Ekiti North, dismissed the motion, saying, “Nobody rewards efforts, what we reward is results. Humphrey Nwosu only made efforts”.
Fasuyi said the late electoral chief had not done enough to merit such recognition.
He added, “I want to say, vehemently, I Senator Cyril Fasuyi representing the good and decent people of Ekiti north, having searched my conscience, I am against this prayer to immortalised him by naming INEC headquarters after him.”
Tony Nwoye, senator representing Anambra North, questioned whether opposition to the motion was linked to Nwosu’s ethnicity.
He said, “We should not allow our personal biases to affect our decisions. June 12 was the freest and fairest election in Nigeria.”
“Professor Humprey Nwosu did his best despite all the threats from the military. It is unfair, is it because he is an Igbo man?”
Titus Zam, senator representing Benue Northwest, also opposed the motion, saying Nwosu does not deserve any honour.
He said, “Nwosu was a political scientist. Someone who by training was supposed to deliver a credible election. A professor of political science heading INEC, could not deliver results.”
“As far as I am concerned, this gentleman (Nwosu) does not deserve this honour.”
The motion also asked the federal government to posthumously honour Nwosu with national honour.
The senators rejected the resolutions when it was put to a voice vote by Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president.
They observed a one-minute silence in Nwosu’s honour and resolved to send condolences to his family, acknowledging their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
