A motion seeking to honor the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu sparked intense controversy in the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, leading to heated exchanges among lawmakers before ultimately being rejected.
The motion, which was raised under matters of urgent public importance by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, was co-sponsored by several members of the minority caucus, primarily from the South-East region. Titled “Urgent Need to Immortalize Professor Humphrey Nwosu”, the motion sought to recognize the late professor’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process, particularly his role in overseeing the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as one of the country’s most credible polls.
Dispute Over Procedural Issues
As Senator Abaribe began presenting the motion, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, raised a point of order, arguing that lawmakers had not been provided with copies of the motion, making it a breach of Senate procedures.
However, Senator Abaribe countered, insisting that the necessary documents had been made available. The exchange quickly created a tense atmosphere in the chamber, with Senators divided over the issue.
Debate Over Nwosu’s Legacy
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, acknowledged the sensitivity of the motion, pointing out that public opinion remained deeply divided on Prof. Nwosu’s role in the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
He remarked, “It’s controversial. Some see him as one of those who truncated June 12, while others say he was a hero of democracy.”
Rejection of the Motion
Despite Abaribe’s arguments, the motion was eventually put to a voice vote, where the majority of Senators voted against it, effectively rejecting the proposal.
Determined to keep the motion alive, Abaribe attempted to reintroduce it under a different procedural order, but his efforts were immediately blocked by Senator Bamidele, who insisted that the opportunity to debate the motion had passed. This further escalated tensions in the chamber.
A visibly frustrated Abaribe openly protested the rejection, questioning why the Senate was opposed to immortalizing Nwosu. “What is wrong with this motion? What is wrong with immortalizing Prof. Nwosu?” he exclaimed.
Concerns Over Suppressing Critical Issues
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, who supported Abaribe’s stance, warned against setting a dangerous precedent that could suppress lawmakers from raising important national issues.
“We must allow people to speak. If we don’t, we are saying that whenever things go wrong, we cannot intervene to correct them,” he cautioned.
However, in response, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin pointed out inconsistencies in Abaribe’s procedural approach.
“You approached me to bring the motion under Order 50 and 51, but you later changed it to Order 42. This is a process,” he explained, advising Abaribe to resubmit the motion at a later date for proper consideration.
South-East Senators Express Outrage
The rejection of the motion infuriated South-East Senators, including Senator Patrick Ndubaeze and Senator Victor Umeh, who openly expressed their displeasure.
Hitting the table in frustration, one of the Senators exclaimed, “What is the meaning of this? We can’t continue to do things this way. What is going on?”
The heated debate and subsequent rejection of the motion reflect the ongoing divisions within the Senate regarding the legacy of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu and the political sensitivities surrounding the annulled June 12, 1993, election.
