AN OPEN LETTER TO MAJOR HAMZA AL-MUSTAPHA: AS WE PATIENTLY AWAIT HIS MEMOIR!
AN OPEN LETTER TO MAJOR HAMZA AL-MUSTAPHA: AS WE PATIENTLY AWAIT HIS MEMOIR!
By:
Nurudeen Dauda
1st June, 2016
nurudeendauda24@gmail.com
nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com
nurudeendauda.blogspot.com
“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing”- Benjamin Franklin.
Sir, I hope this letter will get to you through the power of social media. I was very excited when I read that you have already started working on your “memoir”. I can wait to read your memoir! Our leaders from Northern Nigeria who were directly involved in the Nigerian Civil war did not write anything about the Nigerian Civil war, except, of course, Former Governor of North West, Usman Faruk, Con who wrote ,”The victors and the Vanquished of the Nigerian Civil War”.
About 98% of the books written on the Nigerian Civil war were written by Igbos which is why, In my humble view; youth from of the Igbo ethnic group are misguided on the Civil war and even have the desire to call for Biafra. Chief Emeka Oumegwu Ojukwu wrote a book called:”Because I am Involved”; Major General Alexander A. Madiebo wrote “The Nigerian Revolution and the Biafran War”, Adewale Ademoyega one of the five (5) Majors wrote “Why We Struck “and President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote “My Command.”However, the danger of not writing anything on the war will become more and more in the next 50 years when most of them might have died. Our leaders need to write their own side of the story by setting the records straight.
However, Sir, No one doubts your intelligence, smartness, and indeed your power of expression; no one denies the fact that, you were once the chief security officer cum the most powerful officer in the Government of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. But what one wants to know is that the long held secret you said you know about Nigeria. Nigerians would never forgive you sir if you go to your grave with that, which you know. Sir you were once reported to have said: “If you look at the history of Nigeria, from 1974 till date, and its secret, there are many things that are being presented as the truth, when they are actually the contrary...” What it is that you know about raid in Kalakuta Republic? What it is that you know about the death of Dele Giwa? What it is that you know about the death of Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua? What do you know about the death of Kudirat Abiola? What do you know about the death of Chief MKO Abiola? What do you know about the death of Gen. Sani Abacha?
.Sir,time is not and will never be your friend! No one has a guarantee as to when his life will be cut short! Nigerians, the continent of Africa, the entire world, generations of Nigerians yet unborn and indeed your conscience will never forgive you, if you take this useful information and perhaps many more to your grave. I can wait to read your memoir!
Sir, you were quoted saying: “We have been patient to keep quite in this country, despite the number of secrets we know.”You also said, “ …there have been many security secrets covered under different false disguises involving Obasanjo.”Daily trust Thursday, December 26, 2013 (p.3). You were further quoted as challenging the former president Obasanjo to a public debate over allegations he made in his letter to President Good luck Jonathan. Where you thus, “…Al- Mustapha appealed to the former president to accept the challenge for a debate in any of the global arenas, like CNN or Al-jazeera.” You have also repeated your call for a public debate with former president Obasanjo in leadership newspaper of 31st May, 2016.
Sir you once said, …Nigerians would then come to discover who knows the secrets of Nigeria between you…”you continue, “ …when Obasanjo wrote his letter I was away in India to treat injuries I suffered while in detention during Abdulsalami Abubakar Obasanjo’s Administration. “You further said, “He knows that I know this country, and I challenge him on anything about Nigeria, because even before he became president, he knows I know this country. I pray that he accepts my proposal for the debate on anything about Nigeria in any part of the world.” Desert Herald weekly- 2nd -28th October, 2013(PP 28-29).
Sir, we want you to share with us that which you repeated said you know about Nigeria.
From the look of things is very unlikely for president Obasanjo to accept your request; if so your own side of the story is highly needed. I can wait to read your memoir!
Sir, you once said, “We have been patient to keep quite in this country…”Daily Trust Thursday, December 26, 2013 (P.3). However, Martin Luther King Jr. have this to say, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter " he also once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”In his another philosophic quote, he said, “The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” Franz Fanon on his part said, “Every on-looker is either a coward or a traitor.”He also once said, “This act will never delay their day of judgment.”
Sir why are you silent? I know you are not afraid of anything! Sir, you once told a reporter Bode Gbadebo in your interview with him thus: “God has preserved me against all odds”. Sir, Is it because you don’t want to bridge national security? Or Is it because is against your military oath? Or Is it because of patriotism? Or Is it because it will hurt the people involved?
Sir, I don’t doubt your courage, boldness, calmness, smartness, resilience, and military professionalism. But I feel the time to unravel the truth is now, the opportunity to say it is now. Sir don’t you think it is now or never? “Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity,” Said H. Jackson Brown. Sir you also once said, “I am indebted to the people of this county and the common man and woman on the street who prayed for me.” Sir you are also indebted to us by keeping mute!
You were also quoted as saying in an interview with Bode Gbadebo: “… those who punish me and severally attempted to kill me and the God Almighty saved me and I am going to narrate how many times I knew I survived death before detention, at the point of detention, people sent to do accident with me with their weapons; accidental discharge, putting harmful things in the food they administered to me forcefully. God has preserved me and I am still here.”Similarly, you said, “…my brother was arrested nine times; they burnt his house, shot the guard in his house, all to scare me not to talk about Abiola matter and other skeletons in the cupboard of those who punish me which they know I know.”Desert Herald weekly- 2nd -28th October, 2013(PP 28-29).
You added, “...until the revelations at the Oputa panel came, Nigerians were not aware. I tell you today that; Oputa panel is likened to an excises where water was to be taken out of a full drum and you came to Oputa only to take a spoonful out of it and the game players were complaining that we have taken the whole water out of the drum, meaning we came to reveal everything about them. No! Have said nothing. We have not even introduced the problems they know I at Oputa Panel. We are just keeping facts, we are watching with humility, with respect, care for the country, thinking and showing concern about the unity of this country…”Desert Herald weekly- 2nd -28th October, 2013(PP 28-29).
May God give the courage to put your account in writing! Regards!
May God bless Nigeria!