Victor Umeh, the senator representing Anambra central, has criticised the senate for delaying a motion seeking to immortalise Humphrey Nwosu, the late former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
On Wednesday, a move by 15 senators to urge the federal
government to immortalise Nwosu was stalled
in the upper legislative chamber.
The motion by Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia
south, sought to honour Nwosu for overseeing the June 12, 1993, presidential
election.
The late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, was widely believed to have won the election, regarded as the most free and fair poll in Nigeria’s history.
June 12 has since been declared a public holiday and named
Democracy Day.
However, Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader, objected,
stating that the motion copies had not been distributed to lawmakers, which is
a requirement under senate rules.
Abaribe attempted to push for consideration under “personal
explanation,” arguing that senators had the right to be heard.
Bamidele insisted that explanations must follow senate
procedures unless an exception was agreed upon and reminded Barau Jibrin, the
deputy senate president, who presided over the plenary, that the chamber had
moved on.
Jibrin upheld Bamidele’s position, ruling that the senate
should proceed with its agenda, and advised Abaribe to reintroduce the motion
in the next session.
‘THE MOTION WAS UNDEMOCRATICALLY SHUT DOWN’
Speaking when he appeared on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Umeh described the senate’s action as “very undemocratic”.
“I think it is a question of people not been fair to a man
who has done so well and instead of giving him accolades, we want to be
uncharitable to him even unto death,” he said.
“This motion came today at the most timely moment because he
will be buried on Friday, two days away.
“So, there is no way we cannot talk about his contributions
in the parliament; those who have opposing views will say that the man should
not be immortalised, those who say that he should be immortalised should say
their views.
“Shutting down the motion the way it was done this morning
is very undemocratic.”
Umeh said the senate leadership should have permitted
lawmakers to discuss the motion, noting that similar matters are debated daily
regardless of individual opinions.
He added that delaying the motion was unfair to the late
Nwosu, who, he said, dedicated himself entirely to serving Nigeria.
Born on October 2, 1941, Nwosu died on October 24 in a
hospital in Virginia, USA.
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