By Sayó Àlàgbé
In a heartfelt tribute, legal practitioner Ayoola Ajayi of Kìkì – Òfin House, Ogbomoso, Oyó State, has expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for conferring a posthumous national honour on the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, widely remembered as the architect of Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
Reflecting on the symbolic recognition, Ajayi said the gesture reaffirms the value of integrity, patriotism, and sacrifice, especially in a nation where such virtues often go unrewarded.
“I wish to personally express my deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the posthumous honour conferred on Professor Humphrey Nwosu,” Ajayi stated.
Recalling the circumstances surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Ajayi invoked the memorable refrain: “a little to the left, a little to the right,” which encapsulated Nwosu’s tactful navigation of a treacherous political landscape.
“Professor Nwosu did his best under the challenging circumstances he found himself. The only thing he could not do was announce the result—as collated. Had he done that, only God knows what the consequences would have been for both him and Nigeria at the time,” he noted.
Ajayi referenced historical and philosophical warnings about the futility of justice in the face of brute force, stating: “Did a legal and sociological writer not once assert that ‘when the sword is drawn, the law is silent’? Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe also warned that ‘only a mad man argues with the gun.’”
He cautioned that nations without consistent reward systems for excellence risk eroding public morale and patriotic commitment. “A country that fails to acknowledge outstanding service not only demoralises its citizens but also weakens the sense of loyalty—or extinguishes it altogether,” he warned.
While some critics have dismissed the honour as belated or inconsequential since Nwosu is no longer alive to receive it, Ajayi offered a contrasting view. “I respectfully disagree. The spirit of the awardee will find peace, knowing that his sacrifice and integrity have finally been acknowledged.”
He described Nwosu as “an ingenious professor” who deserves to be immortalised in the annals of Nigerian history. “He will now take his rightful place as the man who conducted the freest and fairest election ever recorded in our democratic journey,” Ajayi asserted, adding that future generations would draw inspiration from his courage and commitment to duty.
In a concluding reflection, Ajayi emphasized the enduring responsibility to uphold truth and justice: “Above all, we must remember that in moments of trial and condemnation, we are accountable to our Creator to do what is right, regardless of the personal cost.”
“I speak not from hearsay,” he concluded, “but as someone who witnessed and monitored that pivotal moment in our national history.
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