A heated exchange erupted in the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday between a senator from the Southeast and another from the Southwest over a motion to immortalise the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
The confrontation, which unfolded during a plenary session, has sparked widespread debate across political circles and social media platforms.
The motion, tabled by Senator Chijioke Eze from Enugu State, sought to honour Nwosu for his pivotal role in conducting the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll. Eze argued that Nwosu’s courage in the face of military pressure deserved national recognition, proposing that a national monument be erected in his memory and his legacy enshrined in Nigeria’s democratic history.
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However, the proposal met stiff resistance from Senator Adeola Ogunmola of Ogun State, who dismissed the motion as “an attempt to rewrite history for regional gain.” Ogunmola contended that immortalising Nwosu would open a Pandora’s box of demands to honour other figures, diluting the significance of such gestures. “If we start this, every region will bring their heroes, and soon we’ll have monuments for everyone,” he remarked, drawing murmurs of agreement and dissent from the chamber.
The debate quickly escalated as Eze accused Ogunmola of undermining the Southeast’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy, while Ogunmola countered that the Southwest had borne the brunt of the June 12 struggle, referencing the late MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled election. The verbal sparring drew interventions from Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who struggled to restore order as tempers flared.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with some senators banging tables and others exchanging sharp words. “It was a drama straight out of a Nollywood script,” quipped a legislative aide who witnessed the session.
Nwosu, who passed away in 2019, remains a polarizing figure. As NEC Chairman from 1989 to 1993, he oversaw the June 12 election, which was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, plunging Nigeria into political turmoil. Despite the annulment, many hail Nwosu as a hero for his efforts to uphold the electoral process under intense pressure.
The motion has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism for further deliberation, but not before leaving a trail of controversy. Political analysts suggest the clash reflects deeper regional rivalries that continue to shape Nigeria’s legislative discourse.
Reacting to the incident, a civil society group, Democracy Watch, urged lawmakers to prioritise national unity over sectional interests. “Humphrey Nwosu’s legacy should unite, not divide us,” the group said in a statement.
As the dust settles, Nigerians await the committee’s report, even as the drama trending on X highlights the enduring fault lines in the nation’s politics. For now, the late NEC Chairman’s immortalisation hangs in the balance, caught in the crossfire of senatorial egos and regional pride.
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