The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) have described Monday’s death of Prof Abubakar Momoh as shocking and great loss to the country.
Until his death the late Momoh was a prominent civil society leader and Director General of The Electoral Institute (TEI) of the Independent National Electoral Commission; and also the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Lagos State University (LASU).
The Executive Directors of CHRICED, Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, CISLAC Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and CDD Idayat Hassan in separate statements said they would honour the late Momoh and urged Nigerians especially the youths to emulate him especially that his death came when Nigeria was marking the Democracy Day.
“In deep shock and with heavy hearts, we at CHRICED mourn the passage of the pioneer Chairman of our Board of Directors, and member, Advisory Council, Professor Abubakar Momoh. Professor Momoh’s demise this morning, to say the least, is the unkindest of all cuts. In our hearts, he will be remembered as a forthright and courageous man, who defied the odds to stand up for what he believed in.
“As a scholar, his contributions to the field of Political Science, especially political economy and theory would remain testaments of excellence in academics. An avatar in the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria, Professor Momoh went beyond the confines of the classroom to lead struggles in furtherance of the ideals of a democratic, just and fair country. His ideas and personal commitment helped galvanise the efforts of stakeholders in the struggle to sanitize Nigeria’s captured electoral process, especially after the infamous general elections of 2007,” Zikirullahi said.
He said CHRICED was finalizing the process of instituting an Annual Lecture Series in his name and that it is painful he would not be alive to experience a project he just recently signed off on.
A jointly signed separate statement by Rafsanjani and Hassan said, “While we condole with the family, friends, academic world and the entire country on the loss, we do not only recall and commend the memorable and outstanding technical supports we enjoyed from the deceased, but also recount his laudable contributions to humanity, academic world and nation’s democracy through persistent advocacy and public outcry for social justice and good governance.
“As a founding member of CISLAC, CDD and other Civil Society Organisations, Prof. Momoh excelled by voluntarily offering holistic and tremendous supports for the establishment and sustenance of the centres. He largely contributed to their present tracked records in advocacy for transparency, accountability and good governance within and outside Nigeria.”
They said the organisations are consulting the immediate family of the deceased and will announce a public event in his honour.
The Management of the Lagos State University, LASU, also mourned Prof. Momoh.
Until his appointment as the Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Professor Momoh was the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University, Ojo.
The Vice Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun in his reactions in a statement said the death of Prof. Momoh was a huge loss and that the whole University Community was deeply saddened by the demise of the renowned Professor of Political Science and a fine gentle man.
“The Vice Chancellor, on behalf of the Council, Senate, University Management and the entire students commiserates with the entire family of Prof. Abubakar Momoh and prays to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and for his soul to rest in perfect peace,’ the statement issued by Mr. Ademola Adekoya, Acting Head,
Centre for Information Press and Public Relations, Lagos State University said.