June 12: Ohanaeze Bombs Tinubu

 

As Nigeria marks June 12 Democracy Day, the Ohaneze Ndigbo has picked holes in President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast for not recognizing the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu among heros of democracy in the country.

Ohaneze Ndigbo through its National Vice President, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, described the June 12 broadcast of President Tinubu as poorly prepared, adding that while he recognized the contributions of many Nigerians to the struggle, he failed to mention the then Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, NEC, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu who conducted the election adjudged as the best in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The body further insisted that the true meaning of Democracy Day celebration is for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be truly independent, adding that despite the June 12 struggle, the commission had remained a bias umpire which Tinubu benefited from.

“It is very unfortunate that the president made a broadcast and forgot a person like Prof. Humphrey Nwosu who almost put his life on the ground in the course of discharging his duties as the Chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC).

“I don’t think that it was an over sight because it is poorly written and you cannot mention those people that fought for democracy and forget Humphrey Nwosu who made public, the outcome of that election.”

“Had it been that Nwosu did not go on air to announce the initial set of results which showed that late MKO Abiola was leading comfortably, how would Nigerians have known?

“Last time under the Buhari administration, a similar thing played out and one wonders if it is a deliberate thing to forget Humphrey Nwosu.

“On the importance of this Democracy Day, I see it as yet another opportunity for us as Nigerians to reflect on the independence of our electoral commission.

“Despite the struggle, INEC is still not independent, and the only way to ensure democracy is for the commission to be totally independent and unfortunately the current president benefited from that,” he added. (Daily Sun)