The Senator representing Anambra
Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh has faulted the planned
honouring of June 12 heroes without the then National Electoral Commission
(NEC) Chairman, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
He said that Nwosu was the actual
hero of the 1993 general election.
Speaking to newsmen in Awka,
Senator Umeh commended President Muhammadu Buhari for conferring honour on MKO
Abiola, his running mate Babagana Kingibe and Gani Fawehinmi.
However, he lamented the
marginalisation and injustice on Igbos by not recognising Professor Humphrey
Nwosu, the man who took the risk to ensure the election held in the freest and
fairest manner ever and declared the result.
He stressed that Nwosu should be
recognised among the heroes of June 12.
“Professor Humphrey Nwosu
conducted the 1993 elections and defiled all manner of pressures. He was also
in the process of announcing the results of that election when the soldiers
stormed his office and whisked him away with the results of the election.
“When they called him on phone
not to announce the result, he refused and was already announcing the results
state by state and was on course to getting to the final declaration when the
soldiers stepped in, put gun on his head, stopped him and whisked him away.
“So, celebrating those who were
presumed to have won the election and forgetting the person who ensured that
that election took place and conducted it in the freest and fairest manner was
a grave omission on the part of the Federal government.
“Even now, it is not late for
them to honour him with a national award. If they have given the acclaimed
winner Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and his vice, Grand
Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), and an activist who fought for the
restoration of the mandate, Chief Gani Fawehinmi with Grand Commander of the
Order of the Niger (GCON), there’s no reason why Prof Humphrey Nwosu should not
be honoured with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). Gani
Fawehinmi was just an activist and the man who took the risk was left out,”
Umeh said.
He further countered those
seeking for entitlement on Abiola as president, noting that the honour was
enough entitlement to their families.
“Chief Moshood Abiola and his
vice were not president and vice president but can be regarded as president and
vice president elect that never served because one cannot be a president if
he/she was not sworn in and did not serve, so the honor given to them already
by the federal government is enough; those who are asking that they should be
given all the entitlement of former president are being emotional and
sentimental over the matter.
“The recognition that they won
the election is enough tribute to them. Their names would be in the history
book as those who won the election but never served and enough consolation for
their families.
“What is important is that
Nigerians are happy with coming to admit that there was a mistake and injustice
done here in 1993.
“So in the same vein, Prof Humphrey Nwosu
should be recognised among the heroes of that election, leaving him out is
another grave injustice,” he said.
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