The mechanization exercise leading up the preparation for the 2015 presidential elections appear to be on full throttle amidst political musical chairs between historical stakeholders and new comers to the presidential arena. Information available to 247ureports.com obtained through competent sources at the Abuja power corridors indicate that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan may have reached out to the former intelligence and security officer to the former military dictator of Nigeria [Late Sani Abacha], Major Hamza Al Mustapha to offer the opportunity to join the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].
It is recalled that after Sani Abacha’s death, Al Mustapha was arrested and tried for murder and attempted murder of Kudirat Abiola. On 30 January 2012, a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere convicted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha over the murder of Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the supposed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola. He was sentenced to death by hanging but was discharged and acquitted of the crime by the appeal court, Lagos division on Friday, July 12, 2013. The appellate court said there was not enough evidence to incriminate Al-Mustapha in the murder of the Late Kudirat Abiola. The Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted Hamza Al-Mustapha from the murder of Kudirat Abiola. The verdict overturned that of the Lagos High Court which sentenced him to death by hanging. The presiding judge, Justice Rita Pemu, accused the lower court jude, Justice Mojisola Dada, of being ‘‘stroked to secure a conviction by all means.’’ Al-Mustapha, as a result was set free.
Al Mustapha’s release from detention on July 12, 2013 saw an immediate ‘Orwellian’ welcome and applauds from the northern regions of Nigeria. His arrival to his home state of Kano State on July 14, 2013 was greeted by the State government of Rabiu Kwankwaso with a hero’s welcome – where the leader of the Yoruba apex organization [OPC] Dr. Fredrick Fasheun accompanied him to the reception of over 100,000 jubilating crowd at the Aminu Kano International Airport. To political observers, Hamza Al Mustapha had become a pristine bribe for political parties.
Hamza Al Mustapha, in the immediate days following his release, made rounds to several northern states – and he was hosted by several northern governors – as a hero who was unjustly imprisoned by an administration that had an axe to grind with his former boss.
It was on this note that the presidency was reported to have reached out to Major Hamza Mustapha to join the political fray through the PDP. The move by the presidency, according to the source who spoke to our correspondent, was aimed at reaping the new political currency obtainable from the goodwill enjoyed by Al Mustapha in the northern regions of Nigeria – where the President is said to have ‘expected’ political stumbling blocks – against the upcoming 2015 presidential elections.
Our source revealed that Al Mustapha did not immediately discard or accept the offer to the join the ruling party. Rather Al Mustapha was reported to have returned to the northern stakeholders [including Governors and National Assembly members] to consult with them regarding the offer. But following the consultations, it was gathered that the northern stakeholders ‘warned’ him to not accept the offer. The ‘warning’ came two [2] days before Al Mustapha’s visit to the Congress for Progress Change [CPC] controlled state of Nasarawa to commensurate with Governor Al Makura. According to our source, his visit to the CPC controlled Nasarawa State came about from Al Mustapha’s decision to shelf the offer to join the PDP.
In talking to a close associate to Al Mustapha, he agreed that he has heard the story of the offer made to Al Mustapha but he stated that he “is not in the position to confirm the offer”. He however revealed that many offers have been coming Al Mustapha’s way since his release from prison.
The presidency, through the image maker, Dr. Rueben Abati, has however called the offer false. In his words, he said “No truth to it”.
