₦airaland Forum

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has opposed any posthumous recognition for the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), arguing that he failed Nigerians by not officially declaring the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Speaking during a Senate debate on Thursday, Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, accused Nwosu and former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, of deceiving the 18 million Nigerians who voted in the historic election.

“Professor Nwosu and President Babangida fooled the 18 million Nigerians who voted,” Oshiomhole said. “If he was afraid of the gun because we were under a dictatorship, some people might say, ‘Well, there were Nigerians who protested under the gun without minding the consequences.’”

He argued that Nwosu had an opportunity to set the record straight after Nigeria’s return to democracy but failed to do so.

“After the end of Babangida’s tenure, the death of Abiola, and the birth of the new democracy that produced President Obasanjo, I would have expected Nwosu to say—either on his birthday or on a special occasion—‘I couldn’t declare these numbers then, but now, on my record, Abiola won this election. I just wasn’t able to announce it,’” he said.

“He died without confession; he cannot be rewarded,” Oshiomhole added, insisting that history should not be distorted to honor Nwosu.

The debate arose during deliberations on a motion sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), which sought to recognize Nwosu’s role in Nigeria’s democratic transition. However, Oshiomhole maintained that true courage would have meant announcing Abiola’s victory despite the risks, and since Nwosu failed to do so, he should not be celebrated.

LagosOrigin:
Oshiomhole should also confess to Edo people and Nigeria how much he looted in his days as the governor of Edo state

shivisee:
But obi people said only Yoruba senators are against it! Any reasonable person will see this move as a gross misplaced of priorities and criminality! His cowardice for not announcing the result led to the arrest of this man, yet those ipob senators wanted him to be immortalised! If he’s that important to them how have they immortalised him in their region?If you pay good attention to this people ,you will realised they are the most hypocritical despots in Nigeria! Just want to forment trouble for no reason!

shivisee:
For refusing to pass the nonsense bill of immortalizing an idiot whose cowardice led to the dealth of Abiola??you see why other Nigerians use your flat heads as refuse dumps??

shivisee:
For refusing to pass the nonsense bill of immortalizing an idiot whose cowardice led to the dealth of Abiola??you see why other Nigerians use your flat heads as refuse dumps??

gidgiddy:
It's easy to ask why a civilian like Nwosu did not publicly announce June 12th results against the wishes of Generals with guns

Adelano313:
When will you confess, or you know when you will die