Major Al-Mustafa: The need for even-handed amnesty
And that carries the risk of emotionally dividing the country and putting the government’s credibility at stake. The issue of Al-Mustapha and other uniformed officials of the late General Abacha administration, who are currently spending almost 11 years in detention, facing alleged murder charges, is taking the shine off the amnesty policy of the federal […]
And that carries the risk of emotionally dividing the country and putting the government’s credibility at stake. The issue of Al-Mustapha and other uniformed officials of the late General Abacha administration, who are currently spending almost 11 years in detention, facing alleged murder charges, is taking the shine off the amnesty policy of the federal government.
Major Al-mustapha, the Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, is being detained along with the former Zamfara State Military Administrator, Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. James Danbaba and the Commander of the mobile police squad in the presidential Villa, Rabo Lawal.
Despite the pretext of trying them for alleged murder, Nigerians are fully aware of the fact that the former Obasanjo administration had dark political motives for detaining them and bringing them to trial. Gen. Obasanjo was using them to seek personal vengeance because the late General Abacha convicted him for attempting to overthrow his government. The former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi who was earlier discharged and acquitted, was taken before the court because he dissented when the former Abdulsulami Abubakar regime officially endorsed Obasanjo to become the PDP presidential candidate in 1999.
Gen. Bamaiyi almost lost his life when the harsh prison condition exposed him to life-threatening infection. The former Obasanjo administration frustrated every effort to fly him to the U.S or Europe for urgent medical treatment. Eventually, however, the government of Dubai accepted to allow him seek treatment there on humanitarian grounds.
As it is, every day Al-Mustapha and others spend in detention, increases the risk of infection or even death on them. Their trial no longer enjoys any credibility because the star witness, Sergeant Rogers had told the court repeatedly that the former Obasanjo administration promised him handsome rewards if he cooperated to successfully convict Al-Mustafa and others. Rogers’ admission destroyed whatever remained of the credibility of the case.
These suspects are being tried for alleged murder but it is now becoming clear that, in Nigeria, people commit crime with different results; some carry a crown for their crimes but others carry a cross! And Major Al-Mustafa and others fall into this poor category. Alhaji Asari Dokubo, the former leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, had told the Justice Eso Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rivers State that his group had killed more than two thousand innocent people during their rebellion against the State.
But he is now a free man because of the State pardon granted him by the federal government and Nigerians accepted the gesture as a sacrifice the country must make for peace. Other violent militant groups were also granted amnesty, despite committing treason, murder, economic sabotage and kidnapping.
Previously two Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) activists – Dr. Frederick Fasheun and Otumba Ganiyu Adams, who were facing murder charges involving the death of twelve police officers, were also freed. Here again, Nigerians welcomed this gesture of national reconciliation. The Niger Delta and Yoruba political leaders worked very hard for the freedom of these former detainees and murder suspects.
Therefore, the federal government should also convince northerners that State pardon is not discriminatory or one-sided. Keeping any group of suspects in detention for almost eleven years destroys the essence of justice. In our zeal to enforce justice, we shouldn’t fall into the folly of destroying justice by prejudice or bias. The desire for justice cuts across ethnic, tribal and regional consideration because we are united by our common humanity. In fact, the OPC leader, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun had previously put out newspaper adverts saying he would welcome the freedom of Al-Mustafa and others as a gesture of national reconciliation.
The amnesty policy of the federal government would lose its purpose if it is perceived as one-sided or discriminatory. Did Al-Mustafa and other suspects commit the worst crimes that are beyond pardon? President Goodluck Jonathan should use his divine elevation to grant pardon to Al-Mustapha and others. The greatest demonstration of statesmanship is our ability to forgive perceived enemies.
Indeed, having spent more than ten years in detention, Al-Mustapha and fellow suspects have been punished enough. Already, Al-Mustapha’s mother has been flown abroad to seek treatment for high blood pressure. This incident alone is bound to touch the conscience of anyone that believes in humanity. Dr. Jonathan should distance himself from Obasanjo’s vindictive influences and act according to his conscience and human values. Major Al-Mustapha and others deserve his pardon.
Usman wrote from Block 29, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin Kwara State