* Says: He was a great son of Arochukwu Kingdom
Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Eminence, Engr. Dr Eberechukwu Oji, has expressed sadness over the passing of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Professor Nwosu, who hailed from Ajali, a Diaspora community of the ancient Arochukwu Kingdom, passed on recently at a hospital in the United States of America. He was aged 83 years.
Reacting to Prof Nwosu’s death, Eze Eberechukwu Oji, in a statement, said:
“I received with utter shock, news of the passing of our elder brother, an illustrious son of Arochukwu Kingdom, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, at a hospital in the United States of America.
“I am deeply saddened by his demise, which happened at a time his wise counsel was most needed.
“Arochukwu Kingdom, Igboland, the academic community, and indeed Nigeria, all of which he positively impacted through his erudition and service, will solely miss him.
“However, we take solace in the fact that he left a legacy on the sands of time.
“While praying God Almighty to accept and repose his soul, I also urge Umu Aro in particular and Nigerians in general, to remember his immediate family in prayers, that God may grant them the fortitude to bear this huge loss.
“May the resourceful soul of Prof Humphrey Nwosu rest in perfect peace; Amen!”
Born on October 2, 1941, Humphrey Nwosu hailed from one of the several Diaspora communities of Arochukwu ancient Kingdom known as Ajali, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He became a professor of political science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earlier took a first degree.
He served in the cabinet of Samson Omeruah, who was Military Governor of the old Abannbra State.
Through the instrumentality of his office, Humphrey Nwosu ensured that traditional rulers began to receive staff of office, and also salaries. He was reputed to have helped in settling both intra and inter-community land disputes.
Nwosu also served as chairman of a Federal Technical Committee on the application of Civil Service Reforms in the local government service.
In 1989, he was appointed chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) after his predecessor Prof Eme Awa resigned over a disagreement with the then military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida
He conducted the highly celebrated June 12, 1993 general elections in Nigeria, which threw up Chief M.K.O Abiola as winner, before the military leadership annulled the process and outcome.
Today, June 12 has become a reference point in Nigeria’s democratic history.
It was recently adopted as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.