[August 08, 2011] Al-Mustapha's Video Clip Divides S-West Leaders Tweet Aug 08, 2011 (Vanguard/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- 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 the Yoruba leaders apart. Many of them have debunked the claim that Al-Mustapha alleged that it was late Yoruba leaders, Abraham Adesanya and Bola Ige who 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. Fedrick Fasheun who earlier posited that the statement by the former CSO should not be taken as truth has taken a new position. Dr 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. Chief Olu Falae on his own part took a different position, insisting it is a fabricated story. He challenged El 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 shoud 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? Falae who maintained that he was not in court when the video clip was shown queried some pertinent questions should be asked and El Mustapha should be made to provide answers to them to support his claim. "He alleged that El-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 was however terse in his opinion. He described the whole raging 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. Sharing Falae's opinion on the issue, second republic governor of Lagos state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande stated that it is yet another lie by a desperate person. "I don't believe him. It's unbelievable because no Yoruba leader would work against Abiola. I think he (El-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. He wondered why the embattled former CSO decided to let out this issue after several years and when those he alleged have passed on. "Why is he just talking now after how many years from 1998 that he was arrested? I can say there was no time Yoruba leaders sold out on Abiola. I am surprised and I think it's a wicked blunder to derogate a whole race and so I don't we should make it so important. When he was told about Fasheun's position, he lashed out on him saying "Whoever says he watched the video clip and that he's convinced Mustapha is saying the truth, I give that to him and his conscience. 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," adding that he (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." "You never can tell what the man has in his mind because you cannot fathom a man's mind. Okay why did he choose this time when both of them are no more to make a statement against them and to which he knows very well that they cannot reply. In my own opinion, what all this portends is just to get his freedom." "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 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 fowl play here but it sounds very cloudy and I don't know what game they are about to play." Meanwhile, Fasheun who was alone in his opinion 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. 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 Chief 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. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]