We Won't Allow You To Hang Al-Mustapha -Northern Leaders, Boko Haram Speak

While many Nigerians welcomed the death sentence passed on Major Hamza Al-Mustapha last week over the killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, there appears to be a seeming trouble over the pronouncement.

Some leaders in the Northern part of the country and the dreaded Boko Haram sect have threatened to take the matter up if the once powerful army officer is killed.

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere had submitted that the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan were guilty of the assassination of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Justice Mojisola Dada consequently sentenced Al Mustapha and Shofolahan to death by hanging until pronounced dead.

A Kano -based group that has been campaigning for Al-Mustapha's release had stated that it would ensure that the ex-CSO was freed. According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the group, Hon. Hussain Isa Mairiga, the group had been anticipating Al -Mustapha's release and were even planning a reception for the former CSO.

Mairiga said, “I spoke to Al- Mustapha yesterday (Sunday) and he told me he was going to be released. The onus is now on the northern establishment to rise up to the occasion and secure Al-Mustapha's release.

“We will do all that is legally possible to secure his release. There are individuals and organizations that have done worse things and nothing happened to them. The system even protected them. Clearly, some powerful people do not want Al-Mustapha to be released.” Mairiga also said that when the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) was killing people in the South West, the leadership of the region rose up to the occasion and protected them.

The Lagos State Government had brought the former CSO and Shofolahan, a former protocol officer to Abiola, to court over their involvement in the murder of Kudirat, wife of the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola on June 4 , 1996.

The Boko Haram sect, which has been destroying precious lives and properties mostly in the northern part of the country, have also threatened to wreck more havocs on the nation if Al-Mustapha is killed.

Across the far North, it was not difficult to see how the Hausa Fulani viewed the verdict as they lined up behind Al'Mustapha. The Yoruba in the South-West, where Kudirat Abiola came from, hailed the death verdict on Al'Mustapha as just and in equal measure. However, a surprising position was taken by a leader of the Niger Delta militants, Asari Dokunbo, who saw the death sentence from the prism of presidential politics and as a continuation of the attacks targeted at bringing down the Jonathan presidency. He apparently saw it as part of an agenda by the Yoruba, going by the wordings and the tone of his reaction:

“The treachery and conspiracy against Goodluck Jonathan will fail. When your man, Obasanjo, was there for eight years, he (Al' Mustapha) didn't get a conviction. Umar Musa Yar'Adua was there, he didn't get a conviction. Shame on you Yoruba. Your conspiracy will fail also.”

February 03, 2012