The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to name headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after its former chairman, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, in recognition of his contributions to the country’s political development.
The House said there was need for the government to immortalise Prof. Nwosu when he is still alive by giving him a national honour and naming a national monument after him.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Peter Uzokwe and Nnabuife Clara.
The House also asked the government to invite Prof. Nwosu to every Democracy Day celebrations.
Uzokwe recalled that Prof. Nwosu was appointed chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993 by former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
He also recalled various efforts made by the previous administrations to immortalise those who fought for democracy, including naming the Abuja National Stadium after the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, MKO Abiola.
According to him, former President Buhari demonstrated an honest remorsefulness of the injustice of June 12, 1993, by changing Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, which was celebrated with all sense of pride in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, who himself was part of the June 12 struggle.
The lawmaker worried about the continued neglect of Prof. Nwosu who, according to him, ‘put his life on the line to see that justice was not only done, but seen to be done’.
According to Uzokwe, despite a change of the National Anthem, with a prayer to ‘build a nation where no man is oppressed, Prof Nwosu is still not celebrated while he is alive’.