The conduct of the contentious 1993 presidential election has sparked a contentious debate in the Nigerian Senate, with Senator Osita Izunaso vehemently defending former INEC Chairman Humphrey Nwosu against accusations of cowardice.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Responding to Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s earlier criticisms of Professor Nwosu’s lack of courage to declare MKO Abiola as the winner of that election, Izunaso provided a detailed account of the election’s final moments during a press address covered by Platinum TV. “If anybody is saying that he did not announce the result, the person is lying, because the results were being announced,” Izunaso declared emphatically.
The senator offered a precise narrative of the election’s progression. “In fact, they have announced 29 states; it remained only Taraba state,” he explained. Izunaso highlighted Nwosu’s alleged resilience, adding, “Even when they ordered him to come to the Aso Rock, I want to tell you that he was even arrested, but he still ordered that Taraba state result be announced.”
Challenging the narrative of Nwosu’s perceived weakness, Izunaso posed a pointed rhetorical question: “So, at what point will he have announced that result? Is it at Aso Rock, where he had been detained?”
The controversy stems from Senator Oshiomhole’s Senate floor statement today, in which he alleged that the late General Abacha had detained MKO Abiola because Abiola declared himself the election winner. Oshiomhole had argued that had Professor Nwosu shown more courage in declaring the election results, Abiola might have avoided arrest. According to him, the National honour should only be conferred on individuals who deserves it.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
