Kudirat Abiola: Afenifere warns of God’s judgment

The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has raised posers as to whether the justice administration system in the country was really fostering the cause of strong nationhood. The group said no one had been pronounced guilty of any of the numerous high profile murders in the country, while ordinary folks languish in prisons on frivolous charges.

Reacting to the recent judgement that pronounced Al-Mustapha not guilty in the murder of Kudirat Abiola, the Media/Publicity Secretary of the group, Kunle Famoriyo, in a statement yesterday, said recent development had fuelled speculation that the justice system was defined by influence and power instead of equality before the law.

“Now that the Appeal Court has pronounced Al-Mustapha guiltless as charged, we can as well say the late despotic ruler, Sanni Abacha, under whom Al-Mustapha served as chief security officer, did no evil and therefore should never again be spoken ill of. It is also instructive that no one has been pronounced guilty of any of the numerous high profile murders in this country, which makes it difficult not to believe that Nigeria’s justice administration system is not skewed against the poor and ordinary citizens languishing in our prisons for frivolous charges. One is being forced to believe that justice in Nigeria is defined by influence and power instead of equality before the law,” the group said.

It noted that despite the revelations that came to the fore during proceedings at the Justice Oputa reconciliation panel, no meaningful efforts had been made to heal the wounds of evil perpetrated by those who wielded power unduly.

Part of the statement read thus: “Afenifere Renewal Group(ARG) is no under illusion that having everything we call dividends of democracy means this country is progressing. Whatever seeming progress we may be making in terms of infrastructural and economic development will be like a man sitting on a three-legged chair, if justice and egalitarianism are not the foundation upon which we build.

We are of the opinion that building a just society, is even far more important than any form of development and it is the reason we have been sounding the gong for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, without which true and lasting peace may remain elusive to us, cutting us short of attaining our full potential.

“Kudirat Abiola walked a golden path and left an enviable legacy. Had her husband, the late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, been allowed to rule according to the June 12 mandate, she would have dignified First Lady office and would undoubtedly use it to defend human rights.

“Therefore, let nobody think the demand that her killers be brought to book is going to benefit her in anyway; for she has been assured a good place in history. Rather, the demand for justice will benefit Nigeria more in her quest to find true nationhood. However, our consolation is: No one will escape God’s judgement.”