“In a brief interview granted in the United States of America a couple of years before his passing, Humphrey Nwosu talked about how he was summoned by the Military Leaders to talk about the June 12 results, and how Abacha shut him up, and blamed him for conducting the Election against Court orders.”
His words:
“I was summoned.
At the level of the National Defense and Security of Defense Council, Babangida and Abacha were prominent. They summoned me.
“I said that the Committee headed by Abacha should find a solution and he said, how do we find the problem.
“I said that we should be permitted to conclude what we started. A Committee was set up.
“I am counting names, Abacha was there, Nyako Murtala , Gen. Aliyu Gusau was in it, David mark , Minister of communication, I was in it as Secretary, Prof.Dele, National Commissioner representing Rivers State was also there.
“We met in Abacha’s Guest House in Abuja.
He then set up another Sub-Committee, which included myself, Akpamgbo, who is late now and Akilu, Secretary of the Commission and one Adviser on Law.
“When we got to that Sub Committee meeting, I said gentlemen, there is no cause to meet. The Law is clear. Election has been conducted. Results have been released. The only one remaining is that of Taraba. Please allow us conclude, we are a technical body.
“In any case, if you don’t want us to release the result, call Abiola and Tofa, or negotiate with Abiola; that he is the winner.
“Well, you know the military, they said that since I was the Chairman, I should make the report. When we got back to Abacha’s Guest House, and I reported that ‘Well Sir,’ the law that allows us conduct this election does not make provision for this sub committee. You should allow us announce the result and that of Taraba by declaring the winner, or, you call Abiola and negotiate with him.’
“The next thing Abacha said was: ‘who are you to tell us what to do? Are you a member of the National Defence and Security Council? You are not’.
“The Council and the Court said that you should not conduct election, that it is illegal. But you conducted.
“You will recall that during Abacha’s regime, his Minister for Information regarded our election as illegal. He (Abacha) said we will go to Aso Rock where all of us will take a decision. Call all your National Commissioners.
“You know that time It was a military regime, because many people did not know what was happening.
“I was told to call my Secretary and invite all the National Commissioners to come to Aso Rock.
“The Minister of Communications used Mobile to get across to them, that time, Mobile was working.
“Andrew Mana, I am mentioning names, told all the Commissioners that they are needed in Aso Rock.
“We went there, it was a full meeting. It was around 18th June that year (1993)
“When we got there, Babangida said NEC, National Electoral Commission, what is your position on this election, I answered as the boss that, ‘Sir, allow us two minutes to discuss, we the NEC members, so that it won’t be Humphrey Nwosu’s decision but that of the National Electoral Commissioners.
“Babangida said okay. So we went to one of the rooms and I said, gentlemen, we are not politicians and we don’t dive into politics, they should allow us conclude.”
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