The Nigerian Village Square - Humphrey Nwosu And His Jaded Market

Humphrey Nwosu And His Jaded Market

Written by Peter Claver Oparah

Monday, 16 June 2008

By all measures, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, Babangida’s chairman of the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) is a poor salesman. My little understanding of salesmanship convinces me that the art thrives best when you have a great product to sell, an appreciative market to sell to and when you log unto the best of times when the buyer will likely buy. By trying to market the soiled and besmeared product like Ibrahim Babangida to Nigerians that are still reeling from the gargantuan damage he inflicted on the country between 1985 and 1993 on a June 12 anniversary, Nwosu’s effort remains perhaps that most disingenuous marketing stunt any salesman had attempted to pull through and it is bound to rebound on Nwosu in the years to come.

On June 12, when most Nigerians were ruing the callous and intemperate act of Babangida and his kitchen cultists to annul an election that produced a president in Chief M.K.O Abiola, Nwosu was mounting another show to tell us ”the true story of June 12”. When millions of Nigerians were taking stock of the unmitigated damage caused the country by an insensate decision of a military cabal, acting on the prompting, headship and full desire of Babangida to plunge the country into what has proved to be an intractable crisis by annulling an election, which inspite of Babangida and his expansive project to hang to power perpetually, turned out to be the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, Nwosu latched unto the nostalgic impression of that event and date to try to sell Nigerians a portion of hemlock in the guise of launching a book that explains all the shenanigans that happened on June 12 1993. I know that most Nigerians lapped unto the nectars Nwosu generously planted to hype his book with relish that at least, the principal character in the dirty act would throw more light at why the country was dashed that callous gift by the evil genius and his cult of sodomic lieutenants.

Did Nwosu disappoint Nigerians? He did so full time and proved that he was roused from his fifteen years deep sleep to re-package and market the very sly character that generated and indeed delivered that infamous act, Ibrahim Babangida. Perhaps, Nwosu thought that Nigerians locked themselves up in a poorly ventilated room for all of these fifteen years waiting for him to come and give us accurate accounts of what happened as soon as he was frightened home by the murderous goons, most of whom are today sitting pretty on our hard-earned democratic dispensation and oozing their noxious flavors to corrupt the Nigerian system. Nwosu mistook our penchant to ‘hear from the horses mouth’ for being dumb and silly and knowing nothing of the sordid intents of the vermin that prosecuted the annulment of June 12, enforced and sustained it till date and who are now ‘appealing’ to us to forget June 12 and move forward, perhaps to their haven of plunder that has now laid Nigeria prostrate. He mistook our desire to hear him to mean that we would gobble his mischievous project for the evil genius hook, line and sinker.

At the end of his fifteen-years choreographed account of what happened, we were left with a poor recitation of facts we had all known and held to be true. Facts we had been repeating for many years now and these include, that Abiola won the June 12 1993 election (is this news?), that such characters like David Mark, our perfidious Senate President, Joshua Dogonyaro, Halilu Akilu, Murtala Nyako, Clement Akpamgbo, Sani Abacha and some others played frontal roles in concocting that evil project (this has oft been repeated), that Babangida was not desirous of annulling the election (the big news indeed!), that Col. Abubakar Umar led the anti-annulment fight from within the Babangida closet (we know that already) and other irrelevant asides that do not really matter.

Of course, the real big news and I suspect, the reason why Nwosu shelled out of his cocoon was the revelation that the man that should be the chief culprit in the entire macabre act, Babangida never desired to annul the June 12 election but was prodded by a cache of the other above-mentioned characters to do so. It was for this main job that Nwosu agreed to plunge forth from his hibernation to tell Nigerians so that they should set upon every other person but Babangida for the annulment of the June 12 1993 election. I would not be surprised if the evil genius that boasted of dominating his environment for the period his tyranny lasted, did not pick the bills for Nwosu’s futile re-invention project for him. I cannot reconcile Nwosu’s latest liberty with truth and reason with the culled fellow, Babangida, whom I watched on national television on June 23 1993, while re-affirming the annulment of the June 12 election, earlier stolen into the media that day, clearly overwhelmed by drugs, boasting that he and his rampaging colleagues were not only in control of the country but really determined to deal with any opposition to the annulment.

I cannot place Nwosu’s hen-pecked master with the fellow that made a road show of his total control of his government and the country for which he bathed no eyelid levying war on hapless Nigerians country at his wills. By what he said, Nwosu was creating the impression that there were competing centers of power during Babangida’s tenure and that he was indeed, overwhelmed by the other centers, manned by his subalterns whom he hired. Nwosu was inadvertently creating the impression that Babangida was a weakling, a boneless coward and a spineless figurehead that was led by the nose by his subordinates while he pretended to be in control. But Nwosu was, at the same time, casting doubts on his intellectual depth by making such cheeky suggestion. He was demonstrating an embarrassing arid grasp of power and the variables therein by trying to present Babangida as a person on whom his appointed subordinates foisted such a dangerous and illegal project as annulling a country’s general election. We may forgive Nwosu for making these gaffes because he is a poor salesman of a rotten product and he cannot but betray the hollow contradictions that riddled his presentation. But we would never be persuaded by sparse reasoning and attempt to obfuscate facts to suit whoever pleases Nwosu.

Any person that had come of age when the infamous annulemtn happened knew that the project to annul the election was Babangida’s and his alone. It fits into his well-expressed desire to hang unto power by all means and remains perhaps his trump card in a seemingly cul-de-sac that transformed his transition project into an endless voyage in national foolery. For this burning hunger for perpetuity, Babangida exhausted all known tricks in the book and the annulment itself was the height of his unwillingness to vacate office even when the country had risen with one voice to demand that he must go. It is well known that Babangida sacrificed men and materials to remain in power and Nwosu belonged to his favoured kitchen cabinet that was persuaded by the messianism of their master. It may shock all to know that prior to the delivery of June 12, Nwosu played along Babangida’s wild card and it may be proper and accurate to state that June 12 was delivered despite Babangida and his fawning cult of military thugs. It was an unintended consequence of Babangida’s armoury of tricks and although Nwosu helped deliver on this historic project, it was facilitated more by Nigerians’ well-expressed desire to see to the back of this duplicitous con man and his hirelings. Nwosu never tried to tell Nigerians why he thinks that the people on whom he wants us to lay the blame for sins Babangida commandeered were more than expandable pawns on Babangida’s thriving project for unlimited power. Truth is that Babangida must have commissioned the advisory committee Nwosu talked gleefully about in his book for the sole purpose of providing him the back line to annul the June 12 election. In fact, he was the initiator, the motivator and the sustainer of the project. He birthed the project and injected it with the lifeblood with which it endured. To put it the other way, the project was Babangida and Babangida was the project because it fits into his tricky plan not to relinquish power and Nwosu had better tell his tales to the swine.

But we must understand Nwosu’s attempt to pin the sins of his master on every other person else but Babangida as part of a larger and more expansive re-invention project the evil mind has been sponsoring since he left power. That these projects have ill-availed him in the past is not a discouragement to try harder and the frenzy has been well raved up in recent times. I hear that there is a serious political calculation that underpins the present frenzied attempt. The other day, he was in Abeokuta, the very hometown of Abiola to settle a trivial quarrel between the state governor and his house. It was during this trip that a traditional ruler issued him an exculpation for the sins he had committed against Yoruba people (remember the Ooni’s ‘Babangida was talking sense’ gaffe in the heat of the June 12 crisis in 1993). He had been gallivanting all over the federation, feeling good and demonstrating an acted bohemian mien, all in the calculation that someday, somehow, this country would come round to accept being infected by the obnoxious Babangida nuisance again. As an incurable optimist in the staying power of his negative values, he would never cease to believe that a country that was made to bear the tragic pestilence of his eight years misrule, Abacha’s five years disaster and Obasanjo’s eight years curse will come round to accept that the evil genius is the only one that can rule this raped and despoiled country.

But I believe the resurgence of the agitation for June 12, as witnessed in the elaborate and widespread celebration of this year’s anniversary, must have convinced people like Nwosu and those for whom he runs his present project that Nigerians are not detained by their convenience. It must convince them that from the dying twigs of our nationhood, a newer movement that will ill-tolerate the tricks and pranks of the country’s ruling class may be springing up. But it is debatable whether the Babangidas and their sales agents would have had the moral ground to morph and liberalize their nuisance values were Obasanjo not the unmitigated disaster he was in eight years of unprecedented waste. It is debatable whether the troika of Babangida, Buhari and Abdulsalami Abubakar would insult us with the recent suggestion of Abacha saintlihood were Obasanjo not the woeful failure he was in the last eight years. In the failure of the self-crowned messiah lies the present desperate and well orchestrated campaign for Babangida and his soulmates for re-invention. Nwosu’s was just one of those projects factored on the reasoning that Nigeria would forever remain a rolling ball, at the feet of its most callous offspring and the game is for its most soiled remnants like Babangida, Abubakar and Obasanjo alone.

Peter Claver Oparah

Ikeja, Lagos.

E-mail: peterclaver2000@yahoo.com

Robot Robot is offline
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	# 1 By all measures, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, Babangida’s chairman of the then National Electo...Read the full article. Posted by Robot\| 16.06.2008 11:00

ocnus ocnus is offline
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	# 2 While it is no doubt true that IBB voided the June 12 election and precipitated a national emergency the truth behind that has never been fully understood by the Nigerian populace. The Nigerian military were adamant that the Babangida government should never allow Abiola to run for office. The basis for this was the information being circulated in Washington, London and Lagos of Abioloa's alleged ties to the drugs business. The US, in particular, had expressed its strong opposition to Abiola as President; not because of his politics or allegations of corruption, but rather for the evidence they felt was correct about Abiola's alleged drugs connections. This was raised in the Military Council on three occasions and Babangida was warned. He refused to take a decision until it was almost too late. When he did he precipitated the crisis of June 12. His friends in the military supported him but were let down by IBB's lack of decisiveness. Posted by ocnus\| 17.06.2008 05:45

denker denker is offline
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	# 3 =ocnus;4295056363>While it is no doubt true that IBB voided the June 12 election and precipitated a national emergency the truth behind that has never been fully understood by the Nigerian populace. The Nigerian military were adamant that the Babangida government should never allow Abiola to run for office. The basis for this was the information being circulated in Washington, London and Lagos of Abioloa's alleged ties to the drugs business. The US, in particular, had expressed its strong opposition to Abiola as President; not because of his politics or allegations of corruption, but rather for the evidence they felt was correct about Abiola's alleged drugs connections. This was raised in the Military Council on three occasions and Babangida was warned. He refused to take a decision until it was almost too late. When he did he precipitated the crisis of June 12. His friends in the military supported him but were let down by IBB's lack of decisiveness. hi folks!..the key words are in red..! Posted by denker\| 17.06.2008 08:44

felix felix is offline
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	# 4 =ocnus;4295056363>While it is no doubt true that IBB voided the June 12 election and precipitated a national emergency the truth behind that has never been fully understood by the Nigerian populace. The Nigerian military were adamant that the Babangida government should never allow Abiola to run for office. The basis for this was the information being circulated in Washington, London and Lagos of Abioloa's alleged ties to the drugs business. The US, in particular, had expressed its strong opposition to Abiola as President; not because of his politics or allegations of corruption, but rather for the evidence they felt was correct about Abiola's alleged drugs connections. This was raised in the Military Council on three occasions and Babangida was warned. He refused to take a decision until it was almost too late. When he did he precipitated the crisis of June 12. His friends in the military supported him but were let down by IBB's lack of decisiveness. My impression all along was that American support for the annulement must have something to do with his "reparation" efforts :confused1 ...His home was a beehive of activities those days with many black leaders all over the world trooping in for one meeting or the other on reparation....hmmm, drug business??? haba mallam! :confused1:confused1:confused1 Posted by felix\| 17.06.2008 09:00

nero africanus nero africanus is offline
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	# 5 =felix;4295056439>My impression all along was that American support for the annulement must have something to do with his "reparation" efforts :confused1 ...His home was a beehive of activities those days with many black leaders all over the world trooping in for one meeting or the other on reparation....hmmm, drug business??? haba mallam! :confused1:confused1:confused1 abi oh , i tire as i read this one Posted by nero africanus\| 17.06.2008 11:04

Son of the Delta Son of the Delta is offline
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	# 6 =felix;4295056439>My impression all along was that American support for the annulement must have something to do with his "reparation" efforts :confused1 ...His home was a beehive of activities those days with many black leaders all over the world trooping in for one meeting or the other on reparation....hmmm, drug business??? haba mallam! :confused1:confused1:confused1 Have you been able to see America's criminal records? :D:D:D:D:D:D Posted by Son of the Delta\| 17.06.2008 11:05

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	# 7 Umar: Blame Military for Annulment of June 12 06.18.2008 Former Kaduna state military governor, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, said yesterday that Nigerians should blame the military authorities for the annulment of the June 12,1993 presidential election rathan blaming the chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu. In a statement issued in Kaduna yesterday and made available to newsmen , Umar asked Nigerians to hold former military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida responsible for the annulment rather than Nwosu. “The fact that the results of the election were cancelled cannot be blamed on the election commission but the military authorities who had succumbed to its own internal contradictions. It was hard to see anybody feeling more betrayed or more distraught than Prof. Humphrey Nwosu during the days leading up to the annulment of the election of 12th June, 1993. “He was totally powerless to stop the annulment and yet was clearly unable to come to terms with it. He tried to resign his position which had become almost untenable, but was refused. Like others before him, Prof. Nwosu soon discovered that in those circumstances, there was no dismounting the tiger. “It is fitting tribute to the professor’s patriotism and to his personal honour and integrity that he has now released the results of that election. His action was done not out of arrogance or cowardice but strong proof of his remorse and respect for a nation still suffering the pains of that wanton betrayal,” Umar said. According to Umar, the then military authorities “succumbed to its own internal contradictions” in annulling the election considered to be the freest and fairest in the history of elections in Nigeria . He added that many Nigerians, including Chief MKO Abiola and his wife Kudirat died as a result of the struggle to the actualisation of the June 12 presidential election . Describing Prof. Nwosu as a patriot for conducting the June 12 election, Umar argued that the defunct NEC boss should be absolved from any wrong doing in the annulment, saying Nwosu was boxed into a corner and could neither stop the military authorities from canceling the result nor resigning his position. He also denied media reports which quoted him as disowning many of Nwosu’s submissions in his recent books, pointing out he would soon write his own account of the events leading up to the annulment. He stressed that the media reports were clear misinterpretation of what he said, adding that this explains why he had so far refrained from talking about the events of June 12 because, according to him, doing so would invoke painful memories, especially for those who lost dear relations and property during the crisis. He argued that Nwosu must have initially felt the same way like him but later changed his mind and decided to speak up having seen that Nigeria had failed to learn from the experience of that horrendous episode . Posted by edoji\| 18.06.2008 13:10

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	# 8 Only just read this excellent piece by Peter. Right on point. Something is clearly in the offing. That evil troika's bare faced lies at Abacha's dump and Nwosu's big let down and get out of jail of a book seems connected by a smelly string. I just wonder whether the man knows he is being used again. Posted by dem\| 24.06.2008 06:51

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	# 9 Hi, folks! Country pipul, 'e be like sey Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida done begin to dey crase! 'Inhm talk sey na 'ihm anol June Twelf, like sey na brag na inhm 'e dey brag. I jos dey prey make 'e crase reash when 'e go take 'inhm own leg waka go Mushin, or Abeokuta, or Isale Eko, or Ibadan go tell dem sey, true-true, na 'ihm anol de main-de main June Twelf. Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) I Annulled June 12 Election - IBB Source: *The Times of Niger...* Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, has formally accepted responsibility for the annulment of the Presidential election held on June 12, 1993 which was won by Moshood Abiola. But, on Monday, he denied warming up to take over from President Umaru Yar'Adua, arguing that the reason he gave for refusing to contest the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Yar'Adua in 2006 subsists. He spoke against the backdrop of the outcry that greeted the book written by former National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman, Humphrey Nwosu, where he attempted to absolve Babangida of blame in the episode. Babangida explained in a statement issued through his Media Spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, that the criticism against Nwosu is unnecessary because he has the right to write a book on his knowledge of events at the time. "(Babangida) has repeatedly said that given the circumstances at that period, it was better to take a decision, no matter how judgmental, than not to take one at all. And that he should be held responsible and accountable for whatever happened during his tenure as President," the statement said. "That is the hallmark of responsible leadership, and not the type that would apportion blame to his lieutenants for ease of escape. "Rather than commend such boldness, self acclaimed heroes of June 12 and their propagators, including those who actively participated in the annulment process, have been running from pillar to post to wear a new toga of saintliness. "Nigerians should simply watch the footsteps of such felons in this democratic dispensation." "Nigerians should learn to appreciate any intellectual property that is handed down to enrich our history, if not now, then certainly later. Individuals who have superior information could as well come forward with their own accounts and versions of the June 12 elections." Babangida insisted that it is not enough to resort to name calling and baseless accusations "because the details do not fall into the thinking of a select vocal few who have made up their minds and position on the June 12 issue. The road to the library to provoke researches and documentations is an open one. "When it comes to individual accounts of events, then participation becomes very necessary and essential. Nwosu was the Chairman of the defunct (NEC) and he has a responsibility to give his own account of the June 12 issue from his point of view, and not from the point of view of the public." He said he has no reason to undermine Yar'Adua, recalling that when he was about to withdraw from the race in 2007, he wrote to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on why he was not comfortable running with his "younger brother (Yar'Adua), who is today the President. "(Babangida) based his moral stand on the long standing brotherly relationship between himself, (Umaru Yar'Adua), and the entire Yar'Adua family. That position still remains to date, and (Babangida) has been contributing his quota and forthcoming with advice when sought. He has stated earlier that his job is to assist (Yar'Adua) and not to succeed him." *Posted by Abraxas\| 24.06.2008 15:47*

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	# 10 You see? In one short move, IBB makes Nwosu's book irrelevant... Posted by dem\| 25.06.2008 06:17

Last Updated ( Monday, 16 June 2008 )

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