When discrimination taints amnesty
The sentiment for justice and clemency is such that it has the capacity to make people of diverse backgrounds to speak with one voice. For example, Justice Oputa argued that keeping anyone in detention for 12 years and without positively proving his guilt or innocence is a “scandal” on the image of the nation’s judiciary. […]
The sentiment for justice and clemency is such that it has the capacity to make people of diverse backgrounds to speak with one voice. For example, Justice Oputa argued that keeping anyone in detention for 12 years and without positively proving his guilt or innocence is a “scandal” on the image of the nation’s judiciary. Chief Feni-Kayode spoke in the same vein. In fact, the intensity of their concern is such that nobody should regard Al-Mustapha’s case as a purely northerners’ business. The attitude of passivity, because we are not the victims, is dangerous. You never can tell whether you may become the next victim of this excruciating experience. Even more disturbing is the seeming efforts of certain people to play politics with the freedom of others.
Nobody has come out as yet to say that Al-Mustapha and others committed the gravest crimes for which they deserve no amnesty. The Niger Delta militants had not only sabotaged the nation’s economic infrastructure, they also engaged in deliberate mass murder and kidnapping of innocent people. In fact, at one point, they killed 14 soldiers attached to the joint task force in the troubled oil producing area of Nigeria.
However, when the federal government finally decided to grant the former militants amnesty, Nigerians, including northerners, supported the gesture because no price is too high to pay for the sake of peace, unity and reconciliation. Is it not instructive that Asari Dokubo, the former leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, is now one of those calling on the government to free Al-Mustapha and other suspects?
This issue has nothing to do with your tribe, religion or ethnicity. It is something that fundamentally borders on our common humanity. Justice Oputa, Fani Kayode, Asari Dokubo and Dr. Frederick Faseun are not northerners; yet that didn’t affect their capacity to identify with those in distress, regardless of who they are or where they come from. Such is the tremendous impact of compassion. It breaks through ethnic, religious, tribal, racial and geographic boundaries. Indeed, no nation can ever progress on vengeance. The philosophy of no victor, no vanquished, has worked wonderfully in healing the wounds of the dirty civil war we had to fight to keep Nigeria one.
Today, as a result of that policy of national healing, an Igbo man has become Nigeria’s first Chief of Army Staff, 44 years after the civil war. With time, patience and democracy, a nation will develop the capacity to rise above its base sentiments of vengeance. Former President Shehu Shagari demonstrated statesmanship when he granted amnesty to the former Biafran warlord, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, despite the opposition of some northern generals who privately protested that Ojukwu’s pardon meant that they sacrificed their lives for nothing!
One disagrees with the notion that the Yoruba are against the freedom of Al-Mustapha and other suspects. Chief Fani Kayode and Dr. Frederick Fasheun are bona fide Yoruba figures; yet that didn’t stop them from supporting the calls for the freedom of these northern detainees. President Goodluck Jonathan should demonstrate statesmanship just like the late Yar’adua who granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants. If the late Yar’adua would have the courage to free the militants, despite the gravity of their crime against the state and the innocent people they had killed in the course of insurrection, President Goodluck Jonathan should even go the extra mile to demonstrate statesmanship by personally intervening in Mustapha’s case. No nation has crumbled because of its capacity for mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Admittedly, some northern leaders are among those conspiring behind the scene to frustrate the freedom of Major Al-Mustapha, the former Zamfara state military Administrator, Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu, the former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. James Danbaba and the former commander of the mobile police squad in the presidential villa, CSP Rabo Lawal. The former Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, said in an interview that, rather than blamie former President Obasanjo, some northern generals and politicians are the ones frustrating the efforts to free Al-Mustapha and others. However, President Goodluck Jonathan should ignore these interests who have wicked private motives and follow his own judgment. Mercy disarms even a perceived enemy. If there is any independence gift Dr. Jonathan can give northerners, the freedom of Al-Mustapha and others is it.
Uzor wrote from 23, Janet Akinrinade Street, Jabi, Abuja