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Of Oputa, Diya, al-Mustapha and Abdusalami Abubakar by Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD Burtonsville, MD, USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 20, 2001 I have, like everybody else and his Nigerian mother, been following the Oputa Panel proceedings very closely, reading every bit of them that I can lay my hands on. I can't wait till that time when the full proceedings will be published, including the edited video of the sessions. But today, I reflect on four people stand out in my mind in these proceedings so far:
(1) Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Retired Supreme Court judge Chukwudifu Oputa has turned out to me to be a VERY WISE MAN indeed, who has a single mission: to get out as many FACTS as possible, without minding whether they are the TRUTH or not, and without worrying too much about who will or will not show up before him. Here is a man who knows that he can get BOGGED down with trying to get ONE OR TWO OR THREE people - for example Babangida, Buhari or Abdusalami Abubakar - to show up, and thereby miss those who are so WILLING (and can be readily made) to show up - Diya, Mustapha, Tsav, Sabo, Barnabas Rogers, etc. He must have decided early to make a choice: whether he wants to get something done, or merely to make a statement about his LEGAL prowess. He decided that if he tried to make a statement about forcing certain people to come before, and he lost, others lesser beings could refuse to come too, and then he would get NOTHING done. So he decided to get some things done first, then maybe, maybe he will now use his legal (or public opinion) prowess to get the Reluctant Three to appear before him. The Reluctant Three are already feeling the heat. Oputa is the kind of wise man that I like, who focuses on his mission like a laser beam. http://allafrica.com/stories/200011060060.html Oputa Panel - The Search For Justice Newswatch (Lagos) November 6, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200010230378.html Human Rights Commission Begins Sitting http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AFR440142000 NIGERIA : Time for justice and accountability December 21, 2000 http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Africa/Days_Atonement_Nigeria.html Days of Atonement: Searching for Justice in Nigeria June 2001
(2) General Oladipo Diya I hate to be rude to an older guy, particularly an older Yoruba guy, but next to Abdusalami - and I will be coming to Abdusalami in a minute - Diya is the greatest loser of this Oputa panel! He just made himself look so real silly. Here was a man who had the greatest opportunity to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, who could simply have exhibited bravado and finally say "Yes, I planned a coup against Abacha, ke. The country was going to the dogs, and I had to do something. Blah, blah.." Even if that "something" was being concocted by somebody else called Bamaiyi! But Egbon Diya was still denying his hand in the "plot" even after Major Segun Fadipe, his former Chief Security Officer (CSO) said, "Ah, Egbon, a se coup o! We did it o! Bayi, bayi la ma se! We did this and that", or when Adisa, in his characteristic candor stated "A se o! We plotted a coup! And I cried o - who wan die? Ok o, make you dey laugh for there - at least I am alive now!" All Diya said was that "Ehn, Jesus wept too ke!" What nonsense! And I don't even want to remember his two wives wearing identical clothing to the proceedings, or Diya's request for compensation. I don't even want to remember those, to save me from throwing up. http://allafrica.com/stories/200101100246.html My Testimony, By Oladipo Diya Vanguard (Lagos) OPINION January 10, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012120318.html I Wept Before Abacha - Diya Vanguard (Lagos); December 12, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012150207.html I Cried To Save My Life, Says Adisa This Day (Lagos) December 15, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012120316.html Diya, What Manner of a General? Vanguard (Lagos) OPINION December 12, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200101290430.html The Tragedy That Is Diya This Day (Lagos) OPINION January 29, 2001 [DISCLAIMER: I did not write the following piece:] http://allafrica.com/stories/199912150124.html Diya, Shut Up! Readers' Forum December 15, 1999
(3) Major Hamza al-Mustapha Now here is a dashing young man who can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, with the Lagos girls (I hear) swooning over him, trying to get his autographs and press his flesh! All his words do not add up, but at least he has kept us fascinated with his teases about the evil machinations of his higher masters. How a "common Major" could have terrorized so many higher-ups in our Nigerian military command is a wonder to behold, and a testament to the basal nature to which it had been reduced by years of tyranny and "chop-chop" governance. My proclivity is to believe Mustapha - except, again, some things don't quite add up. I just don't know what those things are at the moment. http://allafrica.com/stories/200011270598.html Top Nigerians Plotted to Kill Abiola - Al-Mustapha The Post Express (Lagos) November 24, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012180335.html Between Major Mustapha And The Generals This Day (Lagos) OPINION December 17, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200101050075.html Theatre Of Lies And Denials The News January 1, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012030082.html Al-Mustapha's Startling Revelations, Who Will Believe Him? Vanguard (Lagos) OPINION December 3, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012080387.html Diya: Mustapha Was Defacto Head of State This Day (Lagos) December 8, 2000
(4) General Abdusalami Abubakar Of all the people mentioned in connection with the Oputa panel, the greatest loser so far in terms of credibility is General AA - hitherto the "Gentle Giant" of Nigeria who, like Obasanjo before him, gave up power to civilians, only faster! True, Buhari has refused to appear before the Oputa panel - because being a Fulani aristocrat, and being a former head of state, the laws that set up that panel should be changed in his own image. Hmmm.... True, IBB has refused to appear before the Oputa panel - but his reason is that after all, his lawyer has appeared on his behalf, so why need he, a former head of state! In any case, post-June 12, post-Dele-Giwa, post-Gulf-War-oil, post-this, post-that, his reputation cannot be much worse, so why worry? Hmmm.... I could care less whether Buhari or IBB reported before Oputa - everything in its own time. But Abdusalami Abubakar - has he refused too? Abdusalami HAD better show up before the Oputa panel - and soon - because his public image has been battered and gone far SOUTH after allegations of: (a) his massive financial improprieties by one General Sabo; (b) his complicity in the coup fabrications against Obasanjo and Diya; (c) his complicity in the deaths of Abacha and Abiola, the latter two by "common major" Hamza al-Mustapha. Man, I was a little bit stunned at these serious allegations against one man - and against a man who had presented such a gentle and friendly face before the Nigerian people and the world! Or was I really stunned? While we must wait for his side of the story, I must confess that as far back as in December 1998, I wrote a piece called "This Man Called Called Abdusalami Abubakar." I reproduce it below, from my archives, because there was something about this man that made me queasy. __________________________________________________________________________ This Man Called Abdusalami Abubakar by Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD Burtonsville, MD, USA Sunday, December 20, 1998
Since June 9, 1998, we have had a new military dictator at the helm of Nigerian affairs. His name is General Abdusalami Abubakar. If you read the latest December 1998 Newswatch interview of Abdusalami Abubakar, you will see that this man is a smooooooth operator, an operator with a slight touch of humor, underneath which is a lot of - shall we say - cunning. He doesn't talk much, but nowhere near Abacha's morbid taciturni(ci)ty. But the little Abubakar says speaks volumes. I have been searching without success for a phrase to describe General Abdusalami Abubakar, until something we often used to say in primary school and secondary school hit me: "green snake under the green grass." Well, I offer you an imaginary conversation between myself and Abdusalami to buttress my point. An Interview with General Abdusalami Abubakar. ---------------------------------------------- "Thank you for granting me an interview, Sir. My name again is Rueben Alatishe." "Welcome, Ruby" [Wink, wink] "How has it been since you became Head of State?" "Fine. I came here by accident, but I am doing things by design." "Tell us about Abacha." "He was my boss." "No - what was your relationship? "When he was right, I told him he was right. When he was wrong, I told him so. Sometimes when he was wrong, and he convinced me otherwise, I then told him he was right. That is how I survived so far in my chosen profession." "Did you tell Abacha not to run, not to try to succeed himself?" "Are you kidding? How can you tell a man who has not told you he would run not to run? " (Wink, wink!) "But you suspected?" "Well, we heard and saw a few things here and there. A million dollars here, two million marchers there, just a few things." "Do you know how he died?" "No...well, I hear there were some women around, and when they were questioned, there was nothing to hold against them. So they were released for good foreign relations." (Wink, wink!) "I hear that he wanted to retire you and a number of people." "Ee get as ee be, o! Nor be me alone, Akhigbe, dis, dat,.." "When did he want to retire you?" "The very, very day that he died!" (Wink, wink) "Do you know why?" "No...but since he is dead now, we will never know." "How did he die?" "He died." "I mean - when and how did you know he died?" "Well, I got a call to Aso Rock, to come to Aso Rock to meet Oga at 11:30 am. When I got there, Bamaiyi was there too, summoned to Aso Rock. We were just looking at each other, asking, "Do you know what Oga wants?"" "Then?" "We were told that the man died. Just like that." "Did you cry?" [Taking a white 'kerchief and dabbing his eyes.] "Old soldiers never cry." (Wink, wink!) "What about Abiola?" "What about him?" "The man died." "Yes - he did. On the very very day that I wanted to release him." (Wink, wink!) "This "very very day" business. Twice now - with Abacha, Abiola." "Ee get as ee be." "What about June 12?" "Last one 1998 or next one 1999?" "No. I mean the troubles associated with June 12?" "Well, Abiola is dead now. So that is forgotten. We must move on." "You really think so?" "What can I say?" "All this money that Abacha, Gwarzo, Ani, etc. had been stealing or converting into their pockets nko?" "It surprises me too." "Are you going to prosecute?" "We are thinking of it...but we have so little time.." "And all the confessions about murder of Rewane, Kudirat, etc.?" "We are thinking of prosecuting too.. but we have so little time.." "You have been travelling a lot.." "I like travelling." "...to South Africa, France, US, Britain, Burkina Faso..." "I like travelling." "..to Niger, Benin, again to South Africa..." "I like travelling." "You don't talk much, Sir." [Silence.] "There is no petrol in the country." "That is bad. It is embarrassing, particularly since the petroleum ministry is under the Presidency." "What will you do?" "Fire the old task force, and get new members." "What about if they don't perform?" "Fire them again and get new members. By the time and fire and hire, May 29, 1999 will be here." "Talking about fire. Jesse?" "That was unfortunate. People should not steal petrol." "But more than 1000 died, Sir! They could not all be stealing petrol." "They should not live near those who steal petrol." "Your announcement of wage increases did not go too well." "Not well at all." "Why not sir?" "Gidado Idris made me do it." "The Secretary to the Government made you do what sir?" "Made me sign the order." "For example, my state Osun cannot pay the minimum wage set." "Your state is not Ekiti?" [Wink, wink] "How is the transition program going ?" "Very fine. The Local government elections went fine." "There were many problems..." "In life there are always problems." "APP, PDP and AD have now been registered." "My congratulations to them." "We hear that the government is supporting PDP, and Obasanjo for president." "Nobody is supporting President Obasanjo." "Did you say President Obasanjo?" "Freudian slip." [Wink, wink!] "Are you really leaving in May 1999?" "My father-in-law has told the world so, and I dare not disappoint." "And he is?" "Fatima's father, a member of NEIC. Do you know anybody at NEIC?" [Wink, wink.] "No sir, not at all sir! So we can trust your word that you are leaving in May 1999?" "Yes, if I want to keep my one and only wife Fatima!" [Wink, wink!] "What will you do after you retire?" "Set up a farm in Minna like President Obasanjo." [Wink, wink!] "President Obasanjo?" "Another Freudian slip" [Wink, wink.] "This interview is almost over, Sir. So how is the First Lady adapting to Aso Rock?" "Please call her Fatima." "How is Fatima doing? "Very fine." "Did you remember to change the Aso Rock bedsheets?" "Why?" "You know - stains and all. Abacha was pretty active, we hear." "Oh, yes we did. We changed the whole bed, and fumigated the place." [Wink, wink!] "Did Fatima ever dream of becoming the First Lady?" "Who would have thunk?" "Thunk sir?" "That is an Americanism. I thought you are from America? I did virtually all my senior military studies in America." (Wink, wink.) "I hear that the First Lady is a judge." "A very fine judge" "Does she keep you just?" "Very much so. Just and warm. We have six kids." (Wink, wink!) "She went to the University of Ife?" "From 1971-74, I think." "I was at Ife too - from 1971-76. I did English." [Excited] "Not Chemical Engineering? Did you know my wife at Ife?" "Well, yes. There was this lady in the Faculty of Law, the only female student from the North in Law. So she stood out." "That is my wife!" "Up Ife!" "Great Ife!" "Thank you, Your Excellency." "Thank you, Bolaji Aluko. Only Allah is Excellent." "Bolaji Aluko sir? Who is that sir?" "I will get you arrested if you don't confess" [Wink, wink.] "I confess." "My regards to your family." "Yes sir!" What I am getting at is that under his wry humor is some purposive actions which will unfold only with time. And he knows more than he lets on. Like some Roman emperors of old. We shall see where it all leads the country. Best wishes all. _________________________________________________________________________ So there you have what I thought back in December 1998. I just hope that Abdusalami finally proves me wrong. Have a good week. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE RECENT URLS ON ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR & Co. http://allafrica.com/stories/200108130095.html I Won't Appear Before Oputa Panel - Buhari Vanguard (Lagos) August 12, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200108150184.html Oputa: Why Babangida May Not Appear, By Counsel This Day (Lagos) August 15, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012060264.html General Abubakar Shuns Oputa Panel P.M. News (Lagos) December 6, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200012180205.html Obasanjo Was Abdulsalami's Candidate, Says Bamaiyi This Day (Lagos) December 16, 2000 http://allafrica.com/stories/200108080221.html Arrest Abdulsalami, Says Mustapha's Family This Day (Lagos) August 8, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200107200382.html How Abdulsalami Looted Treasury - Sabo This Day (Lagos) July 20, 2001 http://www.vanguardngr.com/news/articles/2001/July/22072001/c1220701.htm ABIOLA, ABDULSALAMI: Aso Rock jittery over revelations Sunday, 22nd July, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200108130346.html Oputa Panel: Sacred Cows And Immunity This Day (Lagos) OPINION August 13, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200108110018.html Oputa Panel: Controversy Rages On IBB, Buhari, Abdulsalami Vanguard (Lagos) August 11, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200108130347.html Between Abubakar And Oputa Panel This Day (Lagos) OPINION August 13, 2001
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