The Coalition for the Immortalisation of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu urged President Bola Tinubu to confer a Posthumous honour on the former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
The Convener of the coalition, Mr Collins Ugwu, made this known during a World media briefing, in Ikeja on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Nwosu’s burial and interment, as announced by the family, will finally take place in his hometown, Ajali, in Orumba Local Government Area of Anambra State, on March 28.
Nwosu, who conducted the June 12, 1993 election annulled by former military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida Rtd served as NEC Chairman from 1989 to 1993.
He passed away in a US hospital on October 24, 2024, at the age of 83.
Ugwu said that as the late Nwosu would be laid to rest, the federal government should close that sore and honour him with at least the rank of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
The convener explained that the honour was to truly show that there was once a great Nigerian who served independently there, with exemplary courage, purpose and fortitude.
He praised the efforts of late Nwosu who superintended what had continued to be the freest and fairest election in Nigeria in 1993.
Ugwu, the Executive Director, of Citizens Network for Stability and Justice, said it was high time the former NEC chairman was honoured and immortalised.
“Nigerians were convinced that a man of his untainted eminence, fearless courage and unmatched performance, in the unbeaten national assignment he did for this country.
“The former NEC chairman deserved a solemn re-tell of his immense delicate sacrifices, toils and labour, to make Nigeria better, through transparent and credible elections,” he said.
According to him, we urge President Bola Tinubu to boldly reward the delicate and elaborate selflessness of Prof Humphrey Nwosu amongst other things.
“Firstly, specially giving him a deserving national award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) or Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR)
“We trust the President to rise to this overdue responsibility, remarkably endorsed by the providence of his position today, as the Democratic President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Number two, the federal government can initiate and cause a national monument to be named after him, for example, the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters, Abuja.
“This is to truly show that, there was once a great Nigerian that served independently there, with exemplary courage, purpose and fortitude.
“Number three, we want the President to name a prominent road or National Freedom Park after him in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“Number four, we also want the government to intentionally and deliberately associate his name and essence with the national celebrations of June 12 as Democracy Day in this country,” he said.
Ugwu said if they continued to cut and celebrate a special cake of history, without a proper mention of the designer, it would continue to be a celebration denied a soul and purity.
He said Nigeria under this president should lift her gaze beyond this depressive anomaly and cast a better net of elegance on June 12.
The convener earnestly thanked the President in advance for this correction and sensitivity, because only he could confidently heal this sore outrage.
Ugwu said on the state level of Anambra, where Nwosu was native to, they were expectant that Gov. Charles Soludo, would act as deserved for a kinsman of such status and identity as Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
He said already the government of Enugu State was set to host a high-level National Colloquium in his honour, which will take place this Friday, in the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
