Al-Mustapha still our officer - Army •Yoruba should be thankful to God - Fasehun

AFTER 14 years of incarceration, the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha is still an officer of the Nigerian Army.

This disclosure was made on Monday at the Joint Security Services Public Information Committee by the Chief of Staff in the Directorate of Army Public Relations, Colonel John Agim.

Answering questions from newsmen on the status of Al-Mustapha, Col. Agim said, “He is still in the Army and all other things will be handled administratively in line with the terms and conditions of service.”

However, informed military sources disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that though Al-Mustapha has been discharged and acquitted, there is no way he can fit back into the army.

According to the source, “At any particular rank, you must have attended all the necessary courses and within certain age bracket.

“But in Al-Mustapha’s case, he will be caught up with the age in rank clause which is enshrined in the terms and condition of service.”

The source added that all his entitlements will be paid to him since he was not dismissed from the army.

Meanwhile, leader of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr  Fredrick Fasehun, has said that he supported the freedom given to Major Al-Mustapha, because he was exonerated by a competent court of the land.

However, the deputy president of Yoruba Association in Kano, Chief Jerry Agunbiade, commended Chief Fasehun, for playing a noble role in following Major Al-Mustapha to Kano.

This is just as the OPC boss added that all patriotic Yoruba should be grateful to God that throughout the period Major Al-Mustapha was in prison, he did not die noting that all he (Fasehun) was doing was to demonstrate to the world that the Yoruba are detribalised and they always stand by justice and equal right.

The OPC leader noted that it was well known that the same  Major Al-Mustapha did everything possible to save the life of late MKO Abiola and also allowed his wife Kudirat to pay visit to him (Abiola).

Fasehun then added that some people may be calling him as a betrayer of Yoruba because of the action he has taken, but that posterity would never forget him .

“Who knows what could have befallen you Yoruba residents in the Northern States of the country,” he said adding that we in the Southern part of the country would not have had problem.