Major Al-Mustapha Did NotKill Kudirat, Says OPC Leader, Fasehun

By SaharaReporters, New York


The leader of the Oodua People Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick
Fasehun, has said that he supports the judicial freedom given to Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief SecurityOfficer (CSO) to late Gen.
Sani Abacha.
Fasehun, who spoke today at the Yoruba Community Association (YCA)
hall in Kano where he was received by the Yoruba and the OPC Kano
Chapter, stressed that Al-Mustapha was exonerated by a competent
courtof the land in the death of Hajiya Kudirat Abiola, wife of the
acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late
Chief Moshood Kasimawo Abiola.
At the occasion, the deputy president of the YCA in Kano, Jerry
Agunbiade, commended Chief Fasehun for his noble role in following
Major Al-Mustapha on his return to Kano.
The OPC boss called on all patriotic Yorubas to be grateful to God
that throughout out the period Major Al-Mustapha was in the Kirikiri
Maximum Prison, nothing harmful happened to him, nor did he die there,
saying it demonstrates to the world that the Yoruba are detribalized
and always stand by justice and equal rights.
The OPC leader noted that it was well known that the same Major
Al-Mustapha did everything possible to save the life of late M.K.O
Abiola and also allowed his wife Kudirat Abiola to visit to him,
asking how the same person could have killed Hajiya Abiola.
He said there was no reasonable evidence to nail Major Al-Mustapha as
the killer of Kudirat Abiola, adding that the fear of God was why he
decided to join others to support freedom for Al-Mustapha.
"I resolved to spearheaded bringing Major Al-Mustapha to the ancient
city of Kano, to let them know that thoughwe lost our sons and
daughter during the June 12, 1993 presidential election, but we still
believe in the fact that since court has exonerated Major Al-Mustapha,
we Yoruba had nothing against him," Fasehun said.
Charging the Yorubas always to fight for their right, the OPC leader
pointedout that the pathetic and saddening aspect of Major
Al-Mustpha's trauma during his trial was that all the witnesses
brought to court later cameback and withdraw the statements earlier
made that the former CSO sentthem to kill Hajiya Kudirat.
"The funny aspect was that the very justice that pronounced verdict
that Major Al-Mustapha should be hanged ran away to overseas because
she was called to sign the court verdict, which the Appeal court later
discovered that it lacks transparency,"he said.
Observing that some people may be calling him as a betrayer of the
Yoruba because of the action he was taken, he said that posterity will
never forget him, who knows what could have befallen the Yoruba
resident in the Northern States of the country, although those in the
South would not have had a problem.
He then stated that at his age, 78, he was not looking for anybody to
give him money, but would always fight for Yoruba freedom and has
always called on the Yoruba to unite and fight a common cause.
He praised the legacy of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saying that no
Yoruba leaders have been able to walk in his shoes, drawing attention
to his various achievements, including free education and the first
television service in Africa.
"Let those so-called Yoruba leaders inpolitics tell us what they have
done," he challenged, "Rather, they were using their position to
create enmity, rancour and acrimony among the Yoruba."
Chief Fasehun said it was that concernthat made him and other
patriotic people to form the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria so the
those people who believed in the principles of Chief Awolowo could
work together.
In his contribution, Chief Agunbiade said the Yoruba were grateful for
the kind gesture of the governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Mimiko
who donated the sum of N6 million when the Yoruba were trying to
purchase a building for the Yoruba race.
Also speaking, the former president General, Dr. Jimpat Aiyelangbe,
commended Dr. Fasehun, drawing attention to his role despite the
campaign of calumny mounted against him, and urged him to continue to
fight for the unity of the country.
The governor of OPC, Alhaji Shaq Olorunfemi, expressed happiness
thatat last their leader has visited the Yoruba in Kano, saying that
the group stands for the liberation of the Yorubarace.