By Olayinka Oyegbile
Any Nigerian old enough to be informed about what happened on June 12, 1993, knows that the name of Prof Humphrey Nwosu would never be forgotten as far as that date is concerned. I therefore watched with trepidation the two day proceedings at the Senate chambers when his name was brought up for national honour.
I thought his place was honourable enough not to excite any long debate or controversy. But you can never tell with all these carpetbaggers. Some of them were there on the day that felon launched a national PR disaster to white wash his already soured and soiled image with an oddysey of disservice to our nation. They were not only there but made some monetary contributions to an endless cesspool of blood money.
Prof Nwosu conducted the election that has earned that sobriquet of being “the best and fairest election held in Nigeria”. So, if they agreed with that what was wrong in immortalising the man behind the magic? The felon who supretended over that same election has come out three decades after to confirm his felony. So why deny a man who headed no troops nor a batallion that honour, when the one who did was afraid to confront his subordinates when it mattered most?
What do you want a “bloody civilain” to do when a militaary General cowered in his boot?
However, as Prof Nwosu goes the way of all mortals today, I salute his courage and thoroughness. To Senators Abaribe, Umeh and other South East senators, they should not be deterred by the naysayers. This Prof is a man of honour for all seasons.
Travel well and feel vindicated Prof Nwosu.
NB: Yinka Oyegbile, a journalist-scholar, is a Mass Communications lecturer at Lagos State university, LASU.
