By Adakole Elijah
I have read and pondered the Senate’s outright refusal to immortalize the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who midwifed the June 12 elections, widely regarded as the most credible in Nigeria’s history. Professor Nwosu was appointed by the authoritarian regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to conduct credible elections and declare the results.
The military government provided him with the necessary legal frameworks and adequate resources to support his work. Furthermore, the Nigerian courts were prohibited by military fiat from obstructing or interfering with the conduct of the elections. This gave Professor Nwosu, a renowned Professor of Political Science, the latitude to manage the exercise in the best possible manner.
He introduced several innovative mechanisms aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency of the elections, earning the admiration of all. However, he disappointed the Nigerian people by caving into the military cabal and failing to announce the results, ostensibly due to fear for his life.
Why was he afraid? Was he not aware that the job was risky? If he was not ready for the risk, he ought not to have taken the job. Was he motivated solely by personal gain or the trappings of office? I believe he was there to make history, either positively or negatively. In this case, he was not brave enough to take a stand on the right side of history.
He allowed his fear of the military, which had appointed him, to prevent him from announcing the results. He lacked the courage and firmness required to succeed in his administrative role. By refusing to stand with the masses, he portrayed himself as helpless and cowardly.
A courageous individual would have declared the results and faced the consequences. In Idoma mythology, it is said that if you help carry an old woman’s pot of water and break it in the process, you will not be appreciated. Similarly, Professor Nwosu broke the pot by failing to declare the results.
Immortalizing him would be equivalent to paying a labourer for unfinished work. Let us not view the Senate’s stance through the lens of tribal or regional bias. After all, Professor Nwosu did not take the job on behalf of his tribe or region.
In my opinion, the Senate made the right decision by rejecting the proposal to immortalize Professor Nwosu. He failed in his duty.
Elijah, the living ancestor (Adalekwu) writes from O’EJE Fortress, Otada-Otukpo.
