… Insists that people who risked their lives to do what is right for the country deserve honour
Hon Chris Azubogu has revealed what motivated him to call for the inclusion of former NEC boss, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in the June 12 Honour list following his unfortunate exclusion from the list.
According to Azubogu, his contribution to the motion that sought the recognition of ‘June 12’ as Democracy Day was informed by the need for patriots who, against all odds and risk to their lives, stood their ground and did what was right for our country to be accorded the honour they deserve.
The Lawmaker representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency who made the call on May 7, 2018, during the 8th Assembly on the floor of the House of Representatives while contributing on the motion recalled:
“My insistence on the inclusion of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in the June 12 Honour list was a call for an unbiased recognition of all that were involved at critical levels in bringing about the watershed that is today referred to as ‘June 12’. And it is not in doubt that Prof. Humphrey Nwosu rates as one of the best electoral umpires Nigeria has had”.
Azubogu explained that ‘June 12’ is not just about a person or group but the commitment of a people to take charge of the democratization processes of their country, stressing that not adding Prof. Humphrey Nwosu to the list makes it incomplete.
Prof. Humphrey Nwosu who hails from Ajalli in Orumba South LGA of Anambra State was a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and also the Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) that conducted the June 12, 1993 election involving the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
It will be recalled that the result of the poll widely regarded as Nigeria’s best and which produced what we refer to today as ‘June 12’ was annulled at the conclusion stages following the abortion of the Third Republic by the then military regime.
Azubogu said “Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the mover of this motion and also to some extent adopt what my colleague have just said about appreciating the recognition of June 12 as democracy day.
“It marks as a watershed in our history and recognition has been made to some of the people that participated and some of the actors that were involved in June 12.
“But I will ask my colleagues here to unanimously agree with me that, there was a key actor whose act of courage and fearlessness stood for what was right and did it despite threats to his life and that of his loved ones.
“In all this, I did not see nor hear his name mentioned and it brought me some level of sadness.
“The Person in question is the man, the umpire that conducted the election that was adjudged and acknowledged as the best election in the country and the person in question is Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
“In all these awards, he was not recognized and I felt that anybody who has shown the act of courage to do what is right even in the face of threat to his life should be acclaimed a hero in this Country and I will support that Prof. Humphrey Nwosu be included among those who will receive the honours.”
