Former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd) yesterday said he was not the killer of late Kudirat Abiola.
He made the denial at the sixth edition of Dr. Fredrick Fasehun annual public lecture in Akure. The lecture had the theme: “The Nigerian quest for social justice and credible leadership: the travail of a nation on trial.” Al-Mustapha declared that the insinuation that he killed Kudirat was a ploy by some people in government to soil his image in other to cover up for their atrocities after Abacha died. He pointedly denied that he assassinated the wife of the 1993 Presidential election winner, Chief MKO Abiola.
According to him: “I am often misrepresented, I discharge my duties as required which was to protect the Head of State, protect the government and the people of the country. “Anything aside that would have made me a traitor and I was never a traitor, I am not a traitor and will never be a traitor.’’ Al-Mustapha however called on all citizens of the country to come together as one regardless of their creed or political differences for a better Nigeria.
Asked to access the nation’s democracy in an interview with newsmen after the lecture , the former CSO said; “There is so much turbulence, greed and selfishness. We take two steps forward, four steps backward. ”My concern is patriotism and true love for the country our desire is to invest and allow our institutions to stay rather than forcing them into decay. That is what we should be cautious about. “Those in leadership and those being led particularly those who have attained statesmanship position should understand there is heavier responsibility on their shoulder and they should realize that this country is too important to be allowed to fail.
We must support all those in power.’’ Also speaking on the present administration fight against corruption he said that; “Anti corruption war is not easy as it is being said, we saw it in the past administrations. “But before you start the anti corruption war itself, there are measures to take.
One is to heal the wounds; two, corruption has eaten deep so it is going to be a combination of many things, moral law, science and force.
“The law should be seen to be enforced, ensuring the right of man and those who are enforcing it should also realize that the right of man must be respected. “And those who are stealing should realize law is hot water, if you dare put your hand in hot water, you will get burnt and when it is burnt you have no one to blame. This is where we are and this must be done .’’
Earlier, Fasehun had exonerated the former CSO and recounted his experience with him during the Oputa panel. Fasehun said Al-Mustapha was convicted “with unreliable evidences by the Oputa Panel” The guest lecturer Dare Babarinsa had earlier said that the former CSO imprisoned the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Falae and Fasehun in the same prison during the military junta’s rule. Babarinsa said: “Nigeria has really changed and this has also culminated into the CSO sitting together with Fasehun and Falae whom the former allegedly victimized during the military era.’’
He however lamented that the leaders, who enjoyed the dividends of democracy in their days, have failed to provide same to the succeeding generations.
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