Gaya pleads for Al-Mustapha’s release

Posted: Monday, September 6, 2010

Deputy Minority whip in the senate and former governor of Kano State, Senator Kabir Gaya joined the league of Nigerians that has condemned the continued incarceration of the former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, and appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to cause his release.
Senator Gaya said that the recent spate of protests by youths in Kano over the detention is a premonition of violence, and as a leader, it was time to advise the government to release the detainees. He also appealed to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola to release the officer in the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan.
Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend, the senator added that as Lagos State appointed seven new judges, it should also consider releasing the detained who have over stayed their detention.
He also said that plans are underway emirs from Kano and Yobe states to visit President Goodluck Jonathan over the issue, and advised the President to receive the royal fathers in a thank you visit for releasing Al-Mustapha and others rather than visit to appeal for the release of the men.
The senator added that as the country celebrates its golden jubilee, it was best that the President frees Al-Mustapha and others to join other Nigerians in celebrating the 50th anniversary.
Senator Gaya said that when he visited Al-Mustapha in prison, he discovered that the man was traumatized having lost the chance to attend his father’s burial and for spending over 12 years without conviction or release.
According to Senator Gaya, the issue of release of Al-Mustapha had been presented twice on the floor of the senate by him, and was supported and applauded by colleagues but wondered why the men are still being held.
The second republic governor expressed confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan is a listening leader, and will release Al-Mustapha and others in no distant future.
He said that if Al-Mustapha and others are condemned to rot way in prison, then the cases of Ganiyu Adams and Frederick Fasheun of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) should be revisited and reviewed. These people committed worse crimes against the state but were not treated like Al-Mustapha and others, he said.