Senator Adams Oshiomhole has strongly opposed any posthumous recognition for the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who served as chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC). Oshiomhole argued that Nwosu 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, General Ibrahim Babangida, of deceiving the 18 million Nigerians who voted in the 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.’”
Oshiomhole noted that Nwosu had ample opportunity to set the record straight after Nigeria transitioned to democracy but chose not to do so. He explained that even after Babangida’s departure from power, the passing of Chief MKO Abiola, and the establishment of a democratic government, Nwosu remained silent on the actual results of the election.
“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.
Oshiomhole added, “He died without confession; he cannot be rewarded.” He insisted that history should not be rewritten to celebrate Nwosu, as his refusal to publicly acknowledge Abiola’s victory showed a lack of courage.
The discussion in the Senate stemmed from a motion put forward by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), which sought to recognize Nwosu’s role in Nigeria’s transition to democracy. However, Oshiomhole maintained that true heroism would have meant declaring Abiola’s victory, regardless of the risks. Since Nwosu failed to do so, Oshiomhole believes he does not deserve to be honored posthumously.
