…. Hails Tinubu for honouring late Humphrey Nwosu with conferment of CON
The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Distinguished Senator Victor Umeh, has emphasised the need for the three arms of government – the executive, legislature and judiciary – to work together to drive the process of development and allow Nigerians to enjoy good governance and the dividends of democracy.
Umeh, known for his outspokenness and vibrancy on the floor of the Senate, and quality representation of his constituents, made the emphasis in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
The Ohamadike Ndigbo, an astute politician, peace promoter and advocate of social justice, fairness and equity, expressed joy that democracy has indeed come to stay in the country, while declaring that everything must be done to ensure its growth, sustenance and advancement to benefit the generality of the Nigerians.
“I want to say that I’m happy that our democracy is still in place. The three arms of government are still in place – the executive arm, the legislature and the judiciary. So, it is for these three arms of government to give Nigerians the leadership they want. They are the people who should drive the process of healing and development. Everybody should play his or her role in all arms of government and ensure that the ordinary people of Nigeria get what they are looking for, which is good governance.”
According to him, “The President said a lot of things in his address on June 12 at the joint session of the National Assembly to mark this year’s Democracy Day. He gave hope that the economy is doing well, that there is growth in the GDP and stability in the economy. Yes, these are the things he said. But what we expect is the impact of this growth on the lives of the ordinary people of Nigeria. It may take time to come. But let that growth be steady, because that steady growth will guarantee better living condition for our people.”
The Chairman Senate Committee on National Identity Management and National Population Commission, called on members of the opposition in the country to heed the advice of President Tinubu who has openly declared that he wouldn’t want a one-party state.
“Then on the polity, he (the President) said he doesn’t want a one-party state. Yes, this is a statement he has made openly and publicly. And those in the opposition should now know that they should go and organise themselves. The President said most times the leader of a country gets better advice from the opposition than those who are working with him. So, he believes that he doesn’t need to listen to his own people alone,” Umeh said.
Speaking on the posthumous conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on late Prof. Humprey Nwosu, Umeh stated that it was a commendable step taken by the President.
“I heard that the day we debated the issue of Humphrey Nwosu at the Senate, Mr. President watched the proceedings of that day. He watched it and he felt that it was wrong to say that the man didn’t make any contribution. And he has demonstrated that as the father of the nation by now announcing Humphrey Nwosu as one of the heroes of June 12. There is nothing more soothing and healing than that. Because some people were pretending as if, if they were Humphrey Nwosu, they would have defiled the military juntas and announced the result of the annulled June 12 election.
“The man did everything humanly possible to preserve the election, to conduct it when he was told not to conduct it. When they prevented him from announcing the result of the election and concluding it, he sent the results and filed it in the court. So, he has discharged his responsibility. And the President now said what would you have expected the man to do.
“So, the president was so nice and right in his decision. Honouring Humprey Nwosu with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) has cancelled out all the negative action taken against him. It is a healing process and I commend him for that.”
He added that “We don’t want military intervention in our politics any more. Let us grow our democracy. Democracies grow with time. Our own is not a perfect democracy. Even the president said that our democracy is not perfect yet. So, what we are going to be doing is to be working towards attaining that perfect democracy. It may take us time, but it requires commitment and sincerity of purpose for us to put in place a democracy that will meet the expectations of the Nigerian people both in the rule of law, in terms of being fair, pursuing justice, equity and fairness for all and sundry.”