₦airaland Forum

I hope you all are not forgetting what happened when Tinubu tried to field Ngige as Vp to RIbadu, people(Igbos and yorubas) were disgusted and almost totally disappointed in his choice. Ngige is not appeal, especially in the SE. He barely won in his state, which is even questionable. Outside of anambra, Ngige is a zero. The way things are looking, Okorocha is loved by every SE state. What he should do is run with a NC candidate, preferably from Kwara State(my third home ). Saraki would be the best option, i think. This will get SE,SW,NC, and SS(if they dont sell out as usual) votes.

[size=15pt]Ojukwu is alive –London hospital[/size]
…We are used to such rumour -Bianca

From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Bianca and Ojukwu





The Royal Berkshire Hospital London, where Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is receiving treatment yesterday afternoon declared that the former Biafra leader is still alive and receiving treatment at the hospital.

The reaction from the London hospital was sequel to a strong rumour making the rounds that the Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who was flown abroad in an air ambulance was dead.
The rumour, which started yesterday morning was said to have been flashed in the internet as breaking news.

But, the Assistant Director, Public Relations of the Hospital Nicola Wesson, who spoke to our reporter on phone from London insisted that the Igbo leader was still alive.
Said he; “our press statement on the state of General Emeka Ojukwu’s health is still correct and we want to stand by it, nothing has changed.”

The Public Relations Manager of the Berkshire Hospital, Joe Wise, who signed the statement which was published in the media, was earlier contacted through an e-mail, referred this reporter to the Assistant Director, saying he was on leave.

His e-mail read: “I am on leave until Monday August 15. If your message is urgent, please contact either Jo Barrett or Vicki Sperry or Assistant Director of PR, Nicola Wesson.
In the statement published in the media on Friday July 29, 2011 the hospital recalled that the Ikemba was admitted in the hospital as an emergency patient from the Lynden Hill Clinic. “He was suffering from a chest infection for which he received treatment. His condition is still stable.”

Also reacting to the rumour, wife of the Ezeigbo Gburugburu, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu dismissed the rumour, insisting that she had been in touch with her husband.
Said she: “We are used to such rumours, if they don’t say he is dead, they will say he is in coma or has been abandoned. I can assure you that Ikemba is alive and I even spoke to him a while ago.”

Governor Peter Obi and APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh also refuted the rumoured death of the Igbo leader. Obi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah said the intermittent heightening of tension that had attended his hospitalization showed how dearly Nigerians and the world hold him.

He further thanked all who had continued to show concern about Ojukwu’s ill-health and requested them to continue to pray for his full recovery, re-assuring all Nigerians and foreign admirers of Ojukwu that he was still very much around with us. He appealed to death-mongers to show a little discretion, especially on issues that were clearly open to confirmation.

Umeh, on his part said: “Ikemba is alive. I just spoke with him in hospital. His death rumour is false. We shall continue to pray for him.”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/aug/11/newsbreak-11-08-2011-001.html

ezeagu:
It seems whether you love him or hate him, he's not going anywhere in Nigeria's consciousness.

That's just the reality.

Al-Mustapha!

T9ksy:
remember, we are cowards!

How could i forget!

Or else what? Haba!

Your dream can only come true if the SW were blown to pieces.

They should blame the Yorubas not abubakar.

Just dont try and do what Seal did.

https://www.sweetslyrics.com/images/img_gal/12917_Seal-Henry-.jpg

Nice!!!

Negro_Ntns:
Andre,

Please name the wars you fought with the British and the years.

Can this be independently verified?

I give the war and the years we Aniomas(Western Igbos) fought against the British:

The war is called "Aya Ekumeku" (The Ekumeku War). It lasted from 1883-1914 <---31 years!


http://weaponsgrade.net/ekumeku-war-of-the-anioma-people/


The way we organized ourselves was incredible. Bring out ya popcorn and enjoy

Negro_Ntns:
Chyz,

You are a fraud!  I don't debate with your likes, changing who you are from one argument to another and moving goal posts to score undeserved points.

Ibo/Igbo or whatever else you want to call yourself, is distinct from Edo.

So to identify yourself as Edo after claiming you are Ibo/Igbo indicate you are taking cheap shots to make assertions that are untruthful.

By identifying as Edo you were attempting to assert authority on a falsehood. Your argument is discredited. You are discredited. You are a shame to Ibos for not standing ground proudly on your identity and who you are. Are you ashamed to be Ibo? 

Sorry, I need men who are proud to defend their identity, not small boys parading under numerous identities.

I'm always glad to see bigots like you mad.I makes my day.

So because I presented facts to you I'm a fraud now? ROTFLMAO! I'm guessing I should now submit lies so that i can be truthful?

Sulk in misery bruhahaha! 



                                                                  Che che che che Igbo Kwenu!!!!!!!!  Aye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Negro_Ntns:
Now you are saying Egba and[b] Ijebu are not Yorubas[/b].

No, the Awujale of Ijebuland says Ijebu are not yoruba.

[size=13pt]Itsekiris are Ijebu descendants, says Awujale, calls for Ijebu state[/size]

By Ernest Nwokolo
Published 2/05/2010


The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, has declared that the Itsekiri people currently in Delta State are descendants of the Ijebu stock and part of the greater Yoruba nation.

The monarch said the Itsekiri people in Delta State are true Ijebu sons and daughters stressing that the Itsekiris in the Niger Delta still retain core Ijebu dialect in their language. He said migration for expansion and survival accounted for why they are currently in the Niger Delta area.

The monarch who spoke to journalists as part of preparation for his 50th year anniversary celebration in June this year, also expressed disgust over the nation’s economy being controlled by the federal government, saying it does not augur well for rapid development of the country adding that it undermines self-actualization.

Awujale noted that the only time monarchs in Yorubaland ever came together to see each other  was in 1937 when the colonial masters then worked to forge peaceful relationship ‘among us as a way of reducing the inter-tribal wars and its attendants effects."

" We are never one. We are different people and that is the truth. If I speak my Ijebu language, neither somebody from Ekiti, Ondo nor Ibadan will understand and if any person from any of those places speak his, I won’t understand," Oba Adetona said.

Adetona who is often referred to as Orisa Ijebu by his subjects, said it is the uniqueness of the Ijebu people that is behind the agitation for an Ijebu State to be excised from the present Ogun State. He expressed confidence that the dream would be a reality in his lifetime. However, in a statement by the Egbe Irapada Oodua, EIRO on Saturday, the group said the ancestry of the Yoruba people as descendants of Oduduwa has been settled by "intellectuals of international standing both at home and abroad after intensive research which began around 1050 AD."

The group in a statement by Dr Akinlola Sowumi, leader of the group in Ogun State, noted that the Ijebus deserve to have a state but that the agitation could be waged without resort to the distortion of timeless historical evidence about the history of the Yoruba people.

Negro_Ntns:
Chyz and Andre,

You both lost your arguments and resorted to snickering and insults to cover your weak counterpoints.

Stop trying to toot your own horn to make yourself feel better. After everyone reads my responses to your write up it will be quite clear that you've to a swift beaten. And as for the insults, lets not point fingers. You insult me, i insult you back. I shall not let it slide.

I will call your turn when I'm done with him.

You people stay trying to compete with us Igbos. Havent you learned that competition is in our culture. Bring what you got, i will strike it down every time. haba!

Meanwhile, do yourself a favor and go back and read posts where you inferred that you were Ibo. The point you made about being Edo is an attempt, as is usual for Ibos to do, take on multi-dimensional identity and defraud opponent. So either put a disclaimer that you are not Ibo, as you have previously claimed to be or correct the error you just made in calling yourself Edo.

I never said i was Ibo, I said i was Igbo. Also, the point about being edo, like i said, some see us(Aniomas) as being Edo. Edo is not a tribe, it is a group of related tribal people. Get it? I can be Igbo and Edo at the same time.

Here is a link to help you go figure. Aniomas(which includes Chyz), are referred to as Edo. This is straight out of the horses mouth, a Bini man:

http://www.edo-nation.net/edotribe.htm

Ogbuefi 1:
@Physics, On Issele Uku,
The founder of Issele Uku called Oligbo was the youngest son of Ezechime and was because of that most loved by his father. Issele  Uku because she is relatively young when compared to Obior or Onicha Ugbo tend to emphasize  connections to Benin because according to her own version, the Oba made Oligbo heir to the throne of Ezechime when dispute arosed between his descendants. With a suspicious claim like that , there is always the tendency by Issele people to present themselves as representatives of the " clan head" a title which is non-existent.Its symbols like that that is being used for that.In Onicha Ugbo, Ezi, Obior and Obomkpa( an in law to Ezechime ) such connections to Benin are   not emphasized.

@, all I am leaving this thread for good, However let me make some points very clear.

1)Ika people are Enuanis and Enuanis and Ukwuanis  make up the Anioma nation.The Anioma nation or Western Igbos are part and parcel of Igboland whether those dissident voices( of course they are free to make their own opinions) like it or not whenever an Anioma State is created it will be constituted as part of the South East region.Those who say they are a "unique tribe" are free to join other states.You cannot eat your cake and keep it.You cannot claim to be an Anioma yet bring in baseless theories to create non-existent nationalities and groups.

2)There was systematic killings of the Anioma people in Benin , Warri and Sapele during the civil war.Now, mind you not every Benin , Urhobo or Itsekiri  was involved in that show of shame. We have left that period of confusion and hate and we have forged ahead and this have healed bitterness and anger amongst the peoples of the Old Midwest.

3)Every nation  in Africa has its own version of history and as such is free to present such versions.Of course we cant expect such versions to be 100 % correct but it is part of what constitute each nation's distinct identity.

4) The Igbo nation has many things that bind them and not just language but people say all sort of things to make others feel bad and give them a sense of  superiority.I wish them  luck in their quest.Igbos are often the favoured people for such "bashing", At one time someone insinuated( not implied because it is so clear) that Igbos were cannibals, some say we practice Osu, others justify the killings of the war, Hahaha, We are all here making noise, it will not change anything.It will not for instance change my pride as an Igbo.Of course nobody is perfect talkless of an entire group of people. Come to think of it , I work and have little time to spare.If I should follow this thread , it will only lead to more time mis-management and more exchanges of insults which I am not ready to partake any more.

5)Every thing written here as far as I am concerned were perfect dose for insults and insensitivities to the Igbo and Anioma people.You cannot say because you think someone is "irrational" he deserves to be insulted. You earn respect by respecting others.I am least bothered by any atempt by anyone to denigrate what I have written here; Such attempt is futile  because I have come to understand the mentality of many of the people here.

6)Special love to my folks Chyz and Omonuan and others , Ofu Obi

Ogbuefi, May God bless u for your presence in this nairaland. I will keep the Anioma and Igbo flag going. You can count on that!

Negro_Ntns:
A race is different from a tribe.

Your people are united under one language, hence you are not a race but rather a patch up, a mix and match of different peoples congregated under a common language -Ibo.


We Yorubas are not a tribe. We are different dialects of same language congregated under a hereditary - a race!

Makes no sense what so ever.Lol. . . Do you even know what "hereditary" means?  "Under a hereditary" Lol

Watch how you use the word "Race", homegirl.

Negro_Ntns:
Chyz,

I just posted in another thread but I don't mind posting here as well.

Its hard for an Ibo person to understand how Yoruba race is constituted. In fact, its hard for you to understand what race is. I will enumerate it in a way that you can comprehend.

Take Europe as a sample. You have germany, english, french, spanish, different dialects of one tongue. Each dialect equally has its own land - Deutchland, England, France and Spain respectively.

Are they not one race, Aryan? Habe they not fought one another?  Do they always agree?  But yet they stand and unite under one race!

Wow such a weak and dumb way of trying to make a point. There is sumthing called the AU(African Union) which is a collection of African people to fight for the betterment of Africans. We are all different tribes/countrys/languages but we fought one another, we dont always agree, yet we stand and unite as one African race under the AU. I'm sure you know what the AU is. Word of advice, never use the word "Race" so loosely.

Do you dispute this knowledge?

Now look at Yoruba. You have Awori, Itsekiri, Edo, Ijebu, Ijesha, Egba, Oyo, Ekiti, Offa, Igbirra, Ugbodu, etc. Each with its distinct dialect but united under the Yoruba race.

Edo is definitely not yoruba nor is Igbirra yoruba. I am Edo and I'm not yoruba so get your write up straight. It is funny how you added Ugbodu which is clearly Igbo and right in the center of Igbo-igbo speaking people,lol. If you are referring to the Olukumi who have become Igbo, i suggest you look further into the situation before you go talking what you dont know. Ugbodu is an area of igbos. The olukumi that came there long ago came and was allowed to settle there,get it? Unless you mean Sabo-Gari or Alaba is Igbo.

Yes we have fought and disputed but we are a superior race that understand a clear difference race and tribe. We are organized socially under one hereditary, from bottom to top. What is even more unique, each land is independently ruled but we all congregate as a commonwealth of the Yoruba race and under the flag of Oduduwa.

Sniff, sniff . . .That was beautiful,man! ROTFLMAO!

It is different in Iboland. You all are tied together by language. This is so because you are a conquered tribe. You have different cultures and nativities that do not answer to a central flag or stool of office.

O Gosh, look at the contradiction,lol. . . .If we are a conquered tribe then how do we not answer a central flag or office?Lol. . .Dude, please think before you write. Btw, who is our conquerer?

You are very similar to the South Americans and the North Americans, where diverse hereditaries - indians, mexicans, puerto ricans, incas, all speak one language spanish.

Didn't you say that in Lagos yorubas are mixed with bini? Are the Ilaje no longer mixed with Ijaw? Are there no longer mixture of fulani/hausa yorubas in kwara. Ekiti? Owo? Foorish boy lol. you better stop all this gbo gbo you are doing!

Look at Nigeria, we have different backgrounds but speak one language - english, because we were a conquered nation.

Civilized and strong cultures are independently arranged under one hereditary with diverse tongues and autonomous powers.

So you need to stop comparing your conquered history to an Imperial Yoruba history.

There you go contradicting yourself again. Stay in line hoe.

When Oduduwa arrived here he dominated the power on the land.

Oduduwa was from Benin(Bini) so all you are doing is proving that you people, the yorubas, were conquered a long time even before Bini expansion really took off.

When your Nri got here, he was dominated by the power already on the land.

Lol. Where did you get this info from. Lets say this were true, it just means we Igbos werent as weak as the Yorubas to let ONE man come from nowhere out the bushes and rule us.

Very stark difference!  Don't be deceived by the colonial oyibo that deceptively upgraded you to majority status. You are a new and conferred majority in the history of Africa. All true majorities in the African history fought and won their way up to the status.

Like-wise. You people were never ONE.

How many people did you fight and won to become a majority?  I know you will say market women riot of Aba. Please, please, don't make a caricature of an already comical history.

You people that they call yoruba today have never fought JACK together because you all were never ONE. Lol

If you study your history well you should know that the domination of Nri is the reason why the Aro Ibos look down on Nri Ibos as subordinates.

And your point? lol Also, where exactly did you get this from apart from the nairaland discussions?  Anyways, i guess its the same way you yorubas look down on Ijebus as subordinates as well. hmph!

There is nowehere else in the history greatness in Africa where a migrating ruler was subordinated by an existing ruler of the land, Iboland is the only exceptiion.So stop letting that majority label get you carried away into thinking you are equal with Yoruba or Edo.

Now reread what you wrote and tell me why you are not silly. So an existing ruler should allow another ruler to come into his land and rule him? .

I don't blame you, instead of Omo N'Oba disputing encroachment from his East, he was challenging an undisputable fact of Ife's authority. That's why now its easy for Ibos to insult the Bini stool and even to the point you are snatching land from them.

You're the same dummy that said Binis were influenced by the yorubas and not the other way around. I will now call you "Omo Funny" .

Chyz, boy, don't provoke my tongue and let me loose, lol, ill tell yur history in ways you don't want it told.

No, let loose and tell me my history the way i dont want it told. Omo Funny!

Negro_Ntns:
Like the Aniomans who speak Yoruba dialect, like the Ijebus, the Ijeshas, Ilorins, Aworis, Itskeiris, the Edos speak Yoruba dialects.

Unlike Iboland which is knoted in linguistics, Yorubaland and Yoruba race is knoted in hereditary.

So I understand your diifuclty at understanding the union. There are Oyo people that don't speak Ijebu or Ijesha but they are all still in the Yoruba race and speak one or the other of the numerous dialects.

We have rich and diverse tongues tied under one race. European is an European whether English, French or german but the three languages and also Spanish are dialects, one of the other. You understand it now?

The Ibo language on the other hand is comparable to the Americas, where regardless of the cultural nativity, which are diverse, everyone speak one language of the colonial race -Portuguese/Spanish in South America and Mexico and Puerto Rico and English in North America and few islands.

Your write up isnt make that much sense so let me throw a question at you. Is an Ijebus culture the same as some one from Oyo State; the way they dress et al?

Negro_Ntns:
Wrong Andre.

Edo do not need to spend time in Yorubaland to speak the language, they already are speaking it as a dialect.

Yoruba - Oba a pe l'aye

Edo - Oba a to k'paye.

Meaning: may the King live long!

Wrong Negro,

Edo is a group of related tribes, not a langauge. Bini do not speak the same language as etsako or urhobo but they are all edo. There are yorubas who are edo, exotik is one of them. Aniomas are considered edo by some but we speak Igbo. Dont come here and start spewing falsity.

Negro_Ntns:
Andrew "the slowpoke",

Yoruba and Bini are one race of people. The Lagos royalty is a mixed blood of Bini and Ijesha. Both Yoruba domains and those Kings cannot equate to conquerors of their own domain land.

Agbor on the other hand is not Yoruba domain, so a Bini rulership is indeed that of a conqueror.

Yoruba and who are one race?! Boy stop kidding yourself. We Igbos even share more words in our language with them than you yorubas do. Unless you want to say the Bini language is really a combination of Igbo and yoruba,lol. Pls, dont fool yourself. Lagos is not the only place in yorubaland that the Binis expanded to. They conquered the Owo yorubas, Ekiti areas,etc. so dont fool yourself. It's all recorded and the proof are in the culture and the way they talk. Don't come here and start speaking yall this yoruba nonsense when in the first place you all were NEVER ONE.

Lagos= Aworis,egun,ijebu lands. There is a big call for Ijebu state as we speak because of marginalization and the want to have a separate identity from yorubas.

[flash=350,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaEkB5VXYwQ&feature=player_embedded#at=337[/flash]

Negro_Ntns:
Oh, really?  I thought it was Iboland.

Well tell them to go tell Alaafin they no longer want to be Yoruba.

Who is the Alafin? Is he God? Haba! Just allow them to at least feel a sense of belonging in their own land.

seanet02:
Gani is a mad man. The same guy that have hundreds of OPC members to OGD to harass Yorubas he said he was protecting because of just 5 million. May thunder strike his stinking mouth.

OPC are nothing more than drunken agberos who go around harassing and killing innocent people. Apart from the known criminality of OPC members, Gani Adams is right. Mr.Adams, I salute thee for speaking truth.

ak47mann:

There should be no shock about this. The aworis and eguns have been screaming marginalization by the Lagos state government for a while now. They have not even ruled in their own state yet.It's sad if you ask me.

[size=15pt]Why Okonjo-Iweala Has Not Resumed[/size]

Sun, 07/08/2011 - 12:08am | ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI





Facts have emerged as to why the Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has not resumed her duties few weeks after she was appointed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Minister of Finance.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY reliably gathered that Okonjo-Iweala, the current managing director of the World Bank Group had earlier notified the President Jonathan that she could take the job only if she was allowed to complete her tenure as the managing director at the world apex bank in mid-August.
An insider said that Okonjo-Iweala, who grudgingly accepted to take ministerial appointment is said to be making some arrangements with her present employer, the World Bank in order not to leave the bank in a serious blackout since the position she occupies is very critical to the bank.

Investigations by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY confirmed that the former finance minister has finally submitted a notice to quit her present job to the management of the world institution so as to enable her resume her duties in Nigeria.

In an electronic mail sent to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Mrs Camille Funnell, the communications personnel of the World Bank said that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala had recently made her intention to resign as the managing director of the world apex bank known.

Mrs Funnell added that Okonjo’s resignation was effective mid August, stressing that she had signaled her intention to return to Nigeria to take up a ministerial post with the government.

The World Bank Group President, Mr. Robert B. Zoellick, had earlier announced Dr. Okonjo-Iweala would from the bank in mid-August to return to Nigeria to take up new appointment.

He had said that, her desire to serve her country is truly a big loss for the World Bank but a major gain for Nigeria, saying it would craft its economic way forward.
Zoellick, in a statement made available to journalists said, “In her time as a managing director, Ngozi has proven her determination and enormous capacity to work in the interest of the poor people in developing countries and around the globe.”

“In this regard, we are grateful to Ngozi for the numerous times she has represented the bank in global for a. Given Ngozi’s passionate advocacy for the poor and her belief in Africa’s promise and growth, it can come as no surprise that Ngozi now wants to turn her sharp intellect, and considerable economic and managerial skills to the challenges facing her own country, Nigeria.”

http://www.leadership.ng/nga/articles/3351/2011/08/07/why_okonjo-iweala_has_not_resumed.html

[size=15pt]‘ACN marginalising Lagos indigenes’[/size]

On August 7, 2011 · In News




Lagos State  Indigene Political  Emancipation Forum, an umbrella body for  indigenes of  Lagos, has called on the  Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to correct what it termed as the political intimidation, oppression and suppression of Lagos indigenes.

Mr Nawairudeen Idowu, the Forum’s spokesman, who addressed newsmen, said: “A situation whereby all the local government chairmen are non-indigenes, most of the councilors  are non-indigenes is untenable”.  He attributed the situation to the act of selection instead of allowing the people to decide who should represent them, “All the local government chairmen are tactically selected by instituting kangaroo primary elections”, he said.

“Five Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) were created out of Alimosho Local Government and only Egbe Idimu has a semblance of an indigene running it.

“The same problem is facing Lagos State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives while in Alimosho House of Reps, the position has been rotating between two non-indigenes since 1999”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/%E2%80%98acn-marginalising-lagos-indigenes%E2%80%99/

[img]http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDoTEVrz1Oii8AYSujzbkF/SIG=13vs7m0t9/EXP=1312694165/**http%3a//hospitalitynigeria.com/states/delta/ASABA%2520CHIEFTAINCY%2520DRESSING%25202,%2520FRONT%2520VIEW.jpg[/img]

[size=15pt]Al-Mustapha’s bribery allegation splits Yoruba leaders[/size]

On August 6, 2011 · In Headlines

By  Abdulwahab  Abdulah, Ishola Balogun and Bashir Adefaka





The revelation and video tape tendered to a Lagos High Court Thursday as exhibit by the former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, is now tearing Yoruba leaders apart.

Many of them have debunked the claim by Al-Mustapha that late Yoruba leaders, Abraham Adesanya and Bola Ige were ‘settled’ to douse the tension generated by the death of the late winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, while others such as Dr. Fredrick Fasheun who earlier posited that the statement by the former CSO should not be taken as truth have taken a new position.

Fasheun suggested that the Federal Government should set up a commission of enquiry to unravel the truth.When he was called the second time on his position, he reiterated that: “I was in the court and I saw the video clip shown. I am not a cynic.” The video tape (VHS) which was played in the court contained less than a minute’s clip of an encounter between some pro-democracy leaders, led by the late Chief Abraham Adesanya and some journalists, who asked him questions on their meeting with the then Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Fasheun who saw the video clip at the court when it was played said he was now persuaded to believe the story, adding that it was confirmed. “ It is no longer an allegation. It was confirmed when they showed the video tape and with the video tape, it is no longer an allegation.”

When reminded of his earlier position, he said: “Yes, I said before that I would not believe Major Al-Mustapha but now, having seen the electronic evidence, I am persuaded to believe. I am not a cynic,” he stated.

Fasehun in a press briefing yesterday said his call for the release of Al-Mustapha over the years was borne out of the conviction that so many things happened which led to the non actualization of the mandate of Abiola and his eventual death in custody.

Calling for the immediate release of Al-Mustapha, Fasehun described his detention as “indecent, prolonged, inhuman and unjustified incarceration,” saying, “everyone now know my concern.”

He therefore said, “I will advocate that to safeguard national security, Nigeria’s image and the judiciary’s integrity, authorities should immediately free Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.”

While justifying his position, Fasehun said “for one, Major Al-Mustapha has been denied justice. The 13 years he has spent locked up amounts to 20 prison years. For what? Furthermore, I am aware that his sensitive post as a former security chief had made him a custodian of information which, if mishandled, was capable of rocking national security.”

He added that, “his keeping quiet, despite suffering 13 years of chain, torture and privation, convinced me that this man indeed valued national security above personal comfort. However, his unending incarceration has forced him to finally open up on some of the mind-boggling information he erstwhile kept close to his chest.”

Speaking on Boko Haram and the violence associated with the Sect, Fasehun said the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar raised quite some eyebrows by absolving the sect from blame for taking up arms against the state as well as condemning the ongoing military crackdown on the violent sect.

Insisting it is a fabricated story, Chief Olu Falae challenged Al Mustapha to name those who collected money. The former Secretary to the Federal Government and Minister of Finance stated that it was not wrong for the former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar to invite Yoruba leaders to his office, stating that he should provide evidence to substantiate his claim. “We want evidence that he gave them money or else, we are saying it’s a lie. He’s out to blackmail dead people. When Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar became Head of State, he invited the Yoruba leaders to see him. ! What’s wrong with that? What is wrong with a Head of State inviting Yoruba leaders and they visited him? Is that a crime? When Obasanjo was President, he invited me to visit him and I visited him. If Goodluck invite me today I will visit him. Is that a crime?”

He alleged that Al-Mustapha and Abdulsalami took money out of the Central Bank. Where is the money? It is convenient to say you gave it to people who are now dead. Why didn’t he mention a single person who is alive to whom he gave the money, so that he can defend himself? Ask him that question. $240 million is a huge amount of money that old men cannot carry in their pocket. Did he send it to their bank accounts? Did he send it by trust to their homes? How did do it? Did he give out $240 million? How? Where? Through whom? He remarked that Mustapha’s statement has led to nothing and should be discarded.

Second Republic Minister for Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide described the issue as ‘demolition’ after a long hesitation. He then laughed sarcastically saying, “Only one word: demolition!” When asked of whom and by who, he said, “I don’t know of whom and by who but that’s what I want to say and I don’t want to add to that.”

Former governor of Lagos state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande stated it is a lie by a desperate person. “I don’t believe him. It’s unbelievable because no Yoruba leader would work against Abiola. I think he (Al-Mustapha) is just a desperate person who wants to get out of his predicament but it will be very wrong for somebody to tell such lies.”

Afenifere leader, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti also maintained that it was very unfair to talk ill of the dead. His words, “Why did he have to wait till now before he exploded? He’s talking ill of the dead because they have no chance to counter his allegation. I think that’s very unfair. Both of them are dead.” He noted Al-Mustapha was just doing that to get his freedom. “Adesanya was very honest and upright and I knew him very well. He used his time rightly. He didn’t love money and he wouldn’t love money to such extent that he would have to compromise his integrity….

“Government has its own plan. They know why they are keeping him up till now. They know for what purpose. So, I don’t see the reason he should be saying all this kind of things at this time. What did he want to achieve? I wouldn’t know if there is any foul play here but it sounds very cloudy and I don’t know what game they are about to play.”

Those who were easily identified in the video were, Chief Adesanya who answered reporters’ questions, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo of the then Eastern Mandate Union (EMU) and the late Chief Bola Ige. As against Al-Mustapha’ claim, neither Adesanya nor Dr. Nwankwo looked happy, while responding to questions from the journalists, Chief Adesanya however smiled at the end of the interview when he said: “Journalists can now disperse,” and everyone laughed.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/al-mustapha%E2%80%99s-bribery-allegation-splits-yoruba-leaders/