Senator Umeh Condemns Rejection Of Motion To Immortalise Humphrey Nwosu
The senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has criticized the Senate’s dismissal of a motion intended to honor the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the now-defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC).
The motion, introduced by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe under urgent public matters and supported by members of the minority caucus predominantly from the South-East, sought to acknowledge Nwosu’s significant contributions and his brave defense of the democratic electoral process during the 1993 presidential elections.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who oversaw the session, noted that the motion was contentious due to the divided public opinion regarding Prof. Nwosu’s involvement in the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
According to Didactic Information Hut, when the motion was subjected to a voice vote, the opposition prevailed, leading to the rejection of the proposal.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Senator Umeh characterized the proceedings in the Senate as highly undemocratic.
“It appears that there is a lack of fairness towards a man who has made significant contributions, and instead of honoring him, we choose to be unkind even in death.
“This motion was timely, especially with his burial scheduled for Friday, just two days away.
“It is essential to discuss his contributions in the parliament. Those with opposing views may argue against his commemoration, while those in favor should express their opinions. The manner in which the motion was shut down this morning is very undemocratic,” he stated.
The senator contended that the Senate leadership should have permitted a debate on the motion, emphasizing that such discussions occur regularly in the Senate, regardless of differing opinions on the matter.
He further asserted that rejecting the motion was unjust to the late Prof. Nwosu, who he claimed dedicated himself fully to the cause.
