Prof Nwosu Chickened out When he was Supposed to be a man says Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a Nigerian lawmaker, denounced attempts at distorting facts about the 1993 presidential election that created the legendary June 12th mantra.

Oshiomhole, who was among the leaders of the democratic cause in the time, labeled the claims “wrestling with the truth” and “distorting history.”.

In Oshiomhole’s account, June 12th was made renowned because Nigerians, having voted and witnessed the outcome, could do the arithmetic for themselves. But the Chief Electoral Officer, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, did not officially declare the figures and the winner, so the Nigerian people had to wonder what the outcome was.

Oshiomhole also protested claims that Professor Nwosu held firm throughout the election and ensured that the people’s wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people were realized. Instead, he credited President Muhammadu Buhari with an acknowledgment of the popular belief that MKO Abiola won the election.

The senator revealed that he was part of a delegation that sat with the late General Sani Abacha, who explained that Abiola was arrested and detained for proclaiming himself the election winner.

Oshiomhole added that Professor Nwosu’s failure to declare the results, despite risk, was an act of cowardice.

Oshiomhole also denounced the gesture to decorate Professor Nwosu, stating that national honors ought to be reserved for those who have been courageous and paid the ultimate price for standing by what they believed. Oshiomhole noted that Professor Nwosu never admitted the fact of the election outcome even in his old age.

The senator concluded by saying that he would have wished Professor Nwosu to take responsibility for the election outcome, even if it was just to clear his conscience, now that Nigeria is a democracy and there is freedom of speech.

“We cannot massage history in this unit. We have to appear to have emotions that are the typical sentiment of the typical Nigerian. Professor Nwosu, when it mattered most, his gallantry failed him,” Oshomhole insisted

Oshiomhole’s statements have sparked another controversy regarding the memory of the June 12th election and the roles played by the central actors in charting Nigeria’s democratic history.