Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has carpeted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for omitting Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who mid-wifed the June 12, 1993, presidential election, on the list of democracy heroes acknowledged yesterday by the President during his nationwide Democracy Day address.
Recall that President Tinubu had during his broadcast, acknowledged some dead and living Nigerians including the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential poll, Alhaji Moshood Abiola, and his wife, Kudiara, as heroes and heroines of the country’s democracy, but failed to recognise Professor Nwosu that defied a directive by the then military dictatorship to announce the results of the election.
We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.
Tinubu had said: “Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.
“The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.
“While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun.”
Meanwhile, COSEYL has described the omission of Nwosu as one of the heroes of democracy in Nigeria, as a grievous error.
According to the socio-political youth group in the South-East geopolitical zone, the story of June 12 is incomplete without Professor Nwosu.
President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, in a statement, insisted that President Tinubu should accord the Anambra State-born professor his due recognition
The statement read: “A team that wins a match scored by one of the players was not made possible only by the player who scored the goal. The winning came as a result of the input of other players.
“That a free and fair election was conducted by National Electoral Commission, NEC, on June 12, 1993, was made possible because a man who believed in transparency and integrity was at the helm of affairs of the electoral body at that time.
“We must tell ourselves the truth that, if not for the impeccable integrity of Professor Humphrey Nwosu who conducted a free and fair election where Nigerians from all walks of life, tribe and religion spoke their minds through the ballot box, there won’t be any democracy day to celebrate today.
“Nwosu conducted a free and fair election where political freedoms and fair processes leading up to the vote, a fair count of eligible voters who cast a ballot and acceptance of election results by all parties. 12 June, 1993 election met international standards for free and fair election.
“Nigerians are celebrating today because of Humphrey Nwosu and it will be totally unjust and unfair to forget to give Honour to whom honour is due.
“We therefore urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honour Professor Humphrey Nwosu who made Nigerians proud by conducting the freest and fairest election ever in the history of the Nation.”
