……Finest Moment of the Electoral History – Scholars, Wants Nwosu immortalised
Scores of Nigerian scholars across the divide were of a consensus in Abuja today that the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election was a sad but finest moment of our electoral history.
Journalism scholar and former Director General of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Professor Tonie Iredia, Mass Communication Teacher, Professor Biodun Adeniyi, Political Science Professor, Jideofor Adibe, former Imo state governor, Emeka Ihedioha and former Information Minister, Labaran Maku led the chart of the presenters at the median National Association of Political Correspondents (NAPOC) commemoration of June 12 anniversary.
Prof Iredia who was National Electoral Commission (NEC), Director of Public Affairs under Prof Humphrey Nwosu went down memory lane on the journey to the June 12 election and its annulment.
Iredia berated the National Assembly for rejecting the recommendation to bestow national honours on Professor Nwosu who midwifed the election, submitting that the refusal was a disservice to humanity.
He said, whether the National Assembly honours Nwosu or not, his name has been engrained and registered in the minds of Nigerians as the man who midwifed the best, freest and fairest election in Nigeria.
Iredia narrated how the military government in annulling the June 12 election dissolved NEC and issued warrant of arrest on Nwosu and his team if they declared the result of the election.
He said the introduction of option A-4 electoral model was the magic Nwosu and his team brought to bear pointing out that elections before and after June 12 had problems.
Iredia therefore advocated for the reintroduction of Option A-4 electoral model that is capable of eliminating rigging, and other electoral malpractices.
He bemoaned the current democratic system that is being manipulated negatively saying “today, democracy is sick and courage has disappeared”.
Iredia wants a democratic Nigeria where votes matters and counts in line with the wishes of the electorate.
He made veil reference to the judiciary which awards electoral victory against the wishes of electorate. For him, a proactive judiciary should adjudicate on electoral disputes and where infractions are found should call for a rerun election for the people to decide and not the judiciary declaring winner or loser.
He also recommended Option A4 for party congresses and conventions.
Former Imo state governor and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Sir Emeka Ihedioha also endorsed the Option A-4 model to curb all election malpractices, saying June 12 election remained the best ever conducted in Nigeria.
Professor Jideofor Adibe of Political Science, Nasarawa State University, proposed that the Option A4 should be a benchmark for future elections in Nigeria saying that democracy is worthwhile if votes count, and rule of law observed.
Professor Biodun Adeniyi of Baze University, Abuja stated that Option A4 was a model designed to fit into our electoral system. He said everything should be done to uphold the sanctity of democracy for the good of the nation.
Former Information Minister who was Political Editor of the Champion Newspapers during the June 12 debacle, Labaran Maku said the era defined democracy in Nigeria, pointing out that it was a sad lesson in our political history.
He urged Nigerians to respect and defend the tenet of democracy at all times.
Malam Shehu Garba, former Adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari said democracy remains the best option that should be guarded jealousy.
National President of NAPOC and former Political Editor of the old Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. Dr Emeka Nwosu urged Nigerians to be vigilant and courageous to protect democracy.
He said a multi-party system is desirable than the emerging trend towards one party system.
The theme of the first NAPOC annual conference was “The Legacy of Option A-4 and June 12 Election.
