….The Man Who Opposed June 12, Was Honoured
….The Man Who Midwifed June 12 Was Dishonoured ….Ayo Mairo-Ese
By Benard Akoma 29/03/25
Despite the open confession by former President Ibrahim Babangida, during his book lunch recently, that the June 12, 1993 presidential election, conducted by Professor Hunphrey Nwosu but annulled by himself, was the freest ever in Nigeria, it was indeed a rowdy session on the floor of the senate chambers, March 26, when the issue on who is the hero of that election was raised.
A motion for the recognition of the roles played by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, then Chairman of the country National Electoral Commission, NEC, a body that midwifed the exercise was moved on the floor of the senate by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District.
Barau Jubrin, Deputy Senate President who presided over the plenary, had from the onset, before putting it for vote, displaced bias, unexpected of an umpire when he described the roles played by Nwosu as “neither here nor there.” According to him, “Nwosu to some people was a betrayer while others view him as a hero.”
His reaction sets the direction of the voice vote as he hardly waited for the outcome to die down before he knocked the gavel, proclaiming, “the No has it.” The motion was killed according to the senate for improper presentation but Abaribe the sponsor of the motion disagreed and walked out of the senate.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra central zone, criticized the Senate for throwing away the motion. Umeh stated that Nwosu was a brave man who defied the military to conduct the freest election. Rufai Oseni, Arise Television presenter even further stretched the ethnic connotation, asking, “is it because Humphrey Nwosu is from South East.”
Useni re-emphasized the fact that Nwosu stood his ground against Arthur Nzeribe “Association For Better Nigeria,” which nudged justice Ikpema to give a midnight judgement that the election should not hold. Yet he went forward to hold the election.
Meanwhile, the motion was re-presented the next day March 27 by same Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after lawmakers threw it out on Wednesday. Aberibe reminded the senate that Nwosu laid the foundation of present INEC headquarters and deserved to be named after him for his unique roles in shaping Nigeria democracy. He further recalled that even Babagana Kingibe who betrayed June 12, has been honoured.
But like before, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers supporting and opposing Nwosu’s legacy. Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results. According to him, “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour. It's not just South East Senators but Abba Moro from Benue and Senator Ned Nwoke from Delta supported the motion that Nwosu deserved to be honoured.
But Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Ogun West said that Nwosu deserves no recognition because, “I lost my brother because he failed to announce the winner of that election.” Senator Adam Oshiomhole said that his failure to announce the results got the process stalled. “If he had had the courage to announce the results,” Oshiomhole alleged, the situation would have remained different but instead, he connived with Babangida to fool Nigerians.”
But Nwosu said in some of his public outings circulating in videos that the Abacha regime regarded the election as illegal.
As it was reported that Nwosu in his book published in 2008, according to Ruben Abbati of Arise TV, Nwosu had stated emphatically that Abiola won the election decisively and was endorsed by all the political parties at the booths. Ayo mairo-Ese, also Arise TV analyst also recalled that “the person, Babangida who scuttled June 12, received accolades with N16b in a fund raising ceremony during his book lunch but the man who staked his neck, dared the military does not deserve recognition, she lamented, asking rhetorically, “is Nigeria really deserved to be died for.”
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu. But in protest, South East senators staged a walk out of the senate chambers.
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