Idayat Hassan, Ex. Dir, CDD
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), two leading Nigerian based civil society organisations have commenced consultations with the immediate family of the deceased Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Prof Abubakar Momoh with a view to announcing a public event in honour of the scholar. CISLAC and CDD disclosed this in a joint statement Monday in which it expressed condolences over the death of Professor Abubakar Momoh, describing the late Momoh as an erudite scholar, a selfless personality and brilliant political scientist who was a Member of each of their Advisory Council.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC Ex. Dir
Signed by Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani for CISLAC and Idayat Hassan for CDD, the two organisations 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”, the statement added.
They recalled how, as a founding member of CISLAC, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and other civil society organisations, Prof. Momoh had excelled by voluntarily offering holistic and tremendous supports for the establishment and sustenance of the centres. He largely contributed to their present track records in advocacy for transparency, accountability and good governance within and outside Nigeria, the statement pointed out.
The executive directors gave the late Momoh kudos for being in the forefront of the advocacy for free, fair, credible and participatory electoral system through research, capacity building for the staff of the Commission and engagement of vigorous voter education activities while he was DG of The Electoral Institute. It spoke of how, as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Lagos State University, LASU and member of Executive of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Momoh was prominent for doggedness in maintaining high level integrity and professionalism, and selfless defence of staff and students’ welfares as well as for strict adherence to ethical standard on addressing issues that affected staff and students.
