Posted by From DESMOND MGBOH, Kano on
The Action Congress (AC) has described as a rehash of old, stale news the so-called revelations on the June 12, 1993 elections by the former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
The Action Congress (AC) has described as a rehash of old, stale news the so-called revelations on the June 12, 1993 elections by the former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the long tales reeled out by Prof. Nwosu, at the launch of his book, only achieved two purposes: they demystified the former NEC chairman and laundered the image of former President Ibrahim Babangida.
It said Prof. Nwosu would have done better by continuing to keep quiet, instead of telling Nigerians what they already knew: that Chief M. K. O. Abiola won the election and that it was annulled by a military cabal.
'All the balderdash about Babangida being pressured by a few military renegades to annul the election cannot convince even the most uninformed of persons.
'In the first instance, Babangida, as president, announced the annulment of the election.
We did not see anyone pointing a gun at his head to make him announce the annulment. Secondly, by virtue of his position at the time, he bears full responsibility for that action, which plunged Nigeria into an unprecedented chaos, and thirdly, Babangida would only be calling himself a coward if he agrees that a few of his subordinates forced him to cancel what has been adjudged the freest and fairest election in the nation's history," AC said.
The party said no amount of revisionism - through sponsored books - can change the ignominious role played by Gen. Babangida in the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.
'Whether he is willing to admit it or not, Babangida stands condemned for annulling the June 12 presidential election, which was won by Chief Abiola.
'While not exonerating those who were also named as collaborators in the fate that befell that election, we say the fact that some of them are now dead waters down the revelation. For example, Gen. Sani Abacha is no longer here, hence cannot confirm or deny the role attributed to him as the alleged arrowhead of the annulment," it said.
'As for Prof. Nwosu, he has missed the train of history. First, he chickened out when it mattered most, as he could have escaped into exile to announce the result of that election instead of waiting for a time that his announcement would be worthless.
'Secondly, when his long silence seemed to have conferred on him some semblance of mystification, he threw it all out by seeking to draw sympathy for the same man whose lack of courage led us to this sorry pass in the first instance, instead of calling a spade a spade!" AC said.
The party said Nigerians cannot and will not be fooled by the supposedly factual book authored by Prof. Nwosu, when in fact the long hands of the puppeteer are all there for them to see.