LAGOS—Yoruba leaders yesterday reacted angrily to allegation by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha that South West leaders were given huge sums of money by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s administration to appease them following the death in government custody of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
Major Al-Mustapha who is on trial for the murder of late Abiola’s wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, told a Lagos High Court in his evidence-in-chief on Monday that he had audio and video evidence of how both General Abacha and Chief Abiola were killed and that “the sums of $200m, 75m pounds and N200m were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria by General Abdulsalami Abubakar in order to douse tension and appease the South West leaders”.
Mustapha’s revelations however elicited outrage from Yoruba leaders who challenged him to be courageous enough to mention the names of those who collected money from the military government if he has evidence.
The South West leaders in seperate reactioins said:
Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere leader
The allegation is strange and should be substantiated. I have not heard it before and he should as a matter of urgency elaborate by exposing those involved. I want to challenge him to come forward with more facts, he should speak out more.
I want to challenge him to expose these South West leaders for the whole world to know if he is sure of what he is saying. He should not just make an allegation, he should support it with facts so that people can take him serious. He should name them.
Retired Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi
It is a wild allegation but with the corruption in the system one may not be too 100 percent sure that what he said is not true. Al Mustapha should name the South West leaders he gave money to, where, when and the circumstances surrounding it. This allegation is too serious to be toiled with. We need the details of the said transaction between him and the Yoruba leaders so that Nigerians and the World would know what exactly transpired during that time. Also, if he comes forward with more information it would help the security operatives and the anti crime agencies in the Country.
We want to know those that are involved in this allegation.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, NADECO chieftain
Al-Mustapha should mention their names. I am a Yoruba leader and I know what I lost during the June 12 struggle. He should be in a position to know those that collected money from the former military Head of State and that is why I want him to mention their names or else, so many of us (Yoruba leaders) will be blackmailed. He should mention their names.”
Dr Fredrick Fasehun
The statement by the former CSO, should not be taken as the truth but investigations should be carried out by security agencies. He (Al-Mustapha) was at the centre of what happened during the period Abacha was alive and there is nobody alive that can contradict his statement. We should not take his revelation as the gospel truth, I think the security agencies should investigate the matter and come up with the truth.
Otunba Gani Adams
That information is true. We were in the struggle when all these things happened. By the time Abiola died, we asked some of our prominent Yoruba leaders why they refused to make any strong condemnation over his (Abiola) death. At that time, we got very reliable information that General Abubakar indeed gave some of our leaders huge sums of money as compensation, though, I cannot recollect the actual amount they were given.
If you remember very well, there was no strong reaction when MKO died and most of those who were present at his burial were mostly the masses as prominent South west leaders were absent. Abiola was sacrificed for not only the South West, but Nigeria and it is unfortunate that such a thing could happen to Abiola.
Senator Rashidi Ladoja, former Oyo State governor
He should name them so that we would know how to deal with those who do not want any good thing to happen in Nigeria. Anybody who did not want Abiola means they do not want any good thing for the country. The presidency of Abiola could have given Nigeria many good things’.
Alhaji Yekini Adeojo
It was unfortunate that we Yorubas are the ones behind our plight. It is a pity that some people could do such a thing. Abiola was a very good man that was why Nigerians voted massively for him. Let us thank God for everything”.
Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala speaking through Prince Dotun Oyelade
Of course, Al Mustapha should go a step further to name those involved in such dastardly act. As a soldier, he should summon courage to spill all for posterity sake so that the next phase of Nigerian history could be put in proper perspective”.
Dr Dejo Raimi Secretary, Southern forum
I am still not sure if what the military man said was a rumour of fact. It is still a rumour until I see the documents because I was very close to Abacha. It sounds so strange to me. Let Mustapha show the evidence of those who collected such money. All we know was that they were looting by all means to make Abiola forget his mandate. But, I did not witness it.
We saw how NADECO was defeated woefully. Their era came and disappeared. Where is NADECO today?
Are Afe Babalola (SAN)
I have just read the statement credited to Al- Mustapha, but he, should be bold enough to mention names of Yoruba leaders that collected the money. Though, his statement is not actionable by an individual, but in the interest of Yorubaland, Al -Mustapha should be bold enough to mention names of Yoruba leaders that collected money from the military leaders
Chief Olu Falae
“You know we, that is, myself and our Baba, late chief Abraham Adesanya were at the fore front of getting Abiola released from the military Gulag that time. You know that nobody could ever offer us bribe, talk less of taking it. As far as I am concerned, all money in the Central Bank of Nigeria cannot buy me, all the dollars in the US treasury cannot bribe me.
There are some of us by the special grace of God who have made it. So, what Al-Mustapha said. has nothing to do about me and with my immediate circle of leaders. One may not rule this out that some Yoruba leaders might have gone there to collect money, that may be possible. My own take now is that Al-Mustapha should please name those who took money.
This will separate the fake leaders from the real leaders. We want to know the names of those people, because giving a blanket comment on Yoruba leaders is not good. There is nothing bad in him coming out to speak now. It is not too late, if that happens to be the truth, it does not matter. The beauty of it is that the truth does not die. He should tell us the truth. This nation needs the truth, let him tell the nation who took money and what they took and let us separate the boys from the men.
Ore Falomo– Abiola’s Personal Physician
Al- mustapha has not said anything new. It’s only new to those who don’t know. I’ve said it before because we knew Abiola was no longer safe after Abacha’s death. However Mustapha has a right to say whatever because people will want to believe him because he was Abacha’s friend and he was in Aso Rock then as Deputy Head of State.
Lai Mohammed, ACN National Publicity Secretary
The party is still studying Al-Mustapha’s pronouncement. However we will want him to name names. He has spent almost 12 years behind bars so anything could have happened but let’s watch and see
Chief Ebenezer Babatope
I have not read the details of the allegation by Al-Mustapaha myself, I only read the headlines from newspapers. I learnt he was giving evidence in his defence in court when he made the allegation. Al-Mustapaha should be allowed to make further details on the allegation that Yoruba leaders were bribed by Abdusalami over Abiola’s death before I could make comprehensive reaction on it.
Most Rev, Felix Femi Ajakaye
Hamza’s tale was a general one without specific and it is unacceptable to any reasonable person.
Al-Mustapha’s allegation was spurious and capable of heating up the polity and dividing the country along ethnic lines. If he is sure of what he said, he should list the names, come with the video and audio evidence that he claimed he has, rather than keeping Nigerians in suspense.
Major Al-Mustapha who is on trial for the murder of late Abiola’s wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, told a Lagos High Court in his evidence-in-chief on Monday that he had audio and video evidence of how both General Abacha and Chief Abiola were killed and that “the sums of $200m, 75m pounds and N200m were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria by General Abdulsalami Abubakar in order to douse tension and appease the South West leaders”.
Mustapha’s revelations however elicited outrage from Yoruba leaders who challenged him to be courageous enough to mention the names of those who collected money from the military government if he has evidence.
The South West leaders in seperate reactioins said:
Adams, Late MKO Abiola, Adebanjo, Falae, Falomo, Babalola
The allegation is strange and should be substantiated. I have not heard it before and he should as a matter of urgency elaborate by exposing those involved. I want to challenge him to come forward with more facts, he should speak out more.
I want to challenge him to expose these South West leaders for the whole world to know if he is sure of what he is saying. He should not just make an allegation, he should support it with facts so that people can take him serious. He should name them.
Retired Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi
It is a wild allegation but with the corruption in the system one may not be too 100 percent sure that what he said is not true. Al Mustapha should name the South West leaders he gave money to, where, when and the circumstances surrounding it. This allegation is too serious to be toiled with. We need the details of the said transaction between him and the Yoruba leaders so that Nigerians and the World would know what exactly transpired during that time. Also, if he comes forward with more information it would help the security operatives and the anti crime agencies in the Country.
We want to know those that are involved in this allegation.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, NADECO chieftain
Al-Mustapha should mention their names. I am a Yoruba leader and I know what I lost during the June 12 struggle. He should be in a position to know those that collected money from the former military Head of State and that is why I want him to mention their names or else, so many of us (Yoruba leaders) will be blackmailed. He should mention their names.”
Dr Fredrick Fasehun
The statement by the former CSO, should not be taken as the truth but investigations should be carried out by security agencies. He (Al-Mustapha) was at the centre of what happened during the period Abacha was alive and there is nobody alive that can contradict his statement. We should not take his revelation as the gospel truth, I think the security agencies should investigate the matter and come up with the truth.
Otunba Gani Adams
That information is true. We were in the struggle when all these things happened. By the time Abiola died, we asked some of our prominent Yoruba leaders why they refused to make any strong condemnation over his (Abiola) death. At that time, we got very reliable information that General Abubakar indeed gave some of our leaders huge sums of money as compensation, though, I cannot recollect the actual amount they were given.
If you remember very well, there was no strong reaction when MKO died and most of those who were present at his burial were mostly the masses as prominent South west leaders were absent. Abiola was sacrificed for not only the South West, but Nigeria and it is unfortunate that such a thing could happen to Abiola.
Senator Rashidi Ladoja, former Oyo State governor
He should name them so that we would know how to deal with those who do not want any good thing to happen in Nigeria. Anybody who did not want Abiola means they do not want any good thing for the country. The presidency of Abiola could have given Nigeria many good things’.
Alhaji Yekini Adeojo
It was unfortunate that we Yorubas are the ones behind our plight. It is a pity that some people could do such a thing. Abiola was a very good man that was why Nigerians voted massively for him. Let us thank God for everything”.
Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala speaking through Prince Dotun Oyelade
Of course, Al Mustapha should go a step further to name those involved in such dastardly act. As a soldier, he should summon courage to spill all for posterity sake so that the next phase of Nigerian history could be put in proper perspective”.
Dr Dejo Raimi Secretary, Southern forum
I am still not sure if what the military man said was a rumour of fact. It is still a rumour until I see the documents because I was very close to Abacha. It sounds so strange to me. Let Mustapha show the evidence of those who collected such money. All we know was that they were looting by all means to make Abiola forget his mandate. But, I did not witness it.
We saw how NADECO was defeated woefully. Their era came and disappeared. Where is NADECO today?
Are Afe Babalola (SAN)
I have just read the statement credited to Al- Mustapha, but he, should be bold enough to mention names of Yoruba leaders that collected the money. Though, his statement is not actionable by an individual, but in the interest of Yorubaland, Al -Mustapha should be bold enough to mention names of Yoruba leaders that collected money from the military leaders
Chief Olu Falae
“You know we, that is, myself and our Baba, late chief Abraham Adesanya were at the fore front of getting Abiola released from the military Gulag that time. You know that nobody could ever offer us bribe, talk less of taking it. As far as I am concerned, all money in the Central Bank of Nigeria cannot buy me, all the dollars in the US treasury cannot bribe me.
There are some of us by the special grace of God who have made it. So, what Al-Mustapha said. has nothing to do about me and with my immediate circle of leaders. One may not rule this out that some Yoruba leaders might have gone there to collect money, that may be possible. My own take now is that Al-Mustapha should please name those who took money.
This will separate the fake leaders from the real leaders. We want to know the names of those people, because giving a blanket comment on Yoruba leaders is not good. There is nothing bad in him coming out to speak now. It is not too late, if that happens to be the truth, it does not matter. The beauty of it is that the truth does not die. He should tell us the truth. This nation needs the truth, let him tell the nation who took money and what they took and let us separate the boys from the men.
Ore Falomo– Abiola’s Personal Physician
Al- mustapha has not said anything new. It’s only new to those who don’t know. I’ve said it before because we knew Abiola was no longer safe after Abacha’s death. However Mustapha has a right to say whatever because people will want to believe him because he was Abacha’s friend and he was in Aso Rock then as Deputy Head of State.
Lai Mohammed, ACN National Publicity Secretary
The party is still studying Al-Mustapha’s pronouncement. However we will want him to name names. He has spent almost 12 years behind bars so anything could have happened but let’s watch and see
Chief Ebenezer Babatope
I have not read the details of the allegation by Al-Mustapaha myself, I only read the headlines from newspapers. I learnt he was giving evidence in his defence in court when he made the allegation. Al-Mustapaha should be allowed to make further details on the allegation that Yoruba leaders were bribed by Abdusalami over Abiola’s death before I could make comprehensive reaction on it.
Most Rev, Felix Femi Ajakaye
Hamza’s tale was a general one without specific and it is unacceptable to any reasonable person.
Al-Mustapha’s allegation was spurious and capable of heating up the polity and dividing the country along ethnic lines. If he is sure of what he said, he should list the names, come with the video and audio evidence that he claimed he has, rather than keeping Nigerians in suspense.
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