PRESIDENT JONATHAN SHOULD EXTEND AMNESTY TO AL-MUSTAPHA AND CO

Our Dear President Sir;

I want to join other well meaning Nigerians to call for the immediate release of the former Chief security officer to late General Abacha and his alleged co-conspirators. I do not know Major Al Mustapha and must not know him to feel the pains of the abuse of his human rights in a deliberate snail speed murder trial, which has lasted more than ten years.

He may well be a very heartless and wicked man as the allegations on his neck seek to portray him. However the many years that he has spent in detention must have taught him a very important lesson. I see no need to continue detaining him as (frankly speaking) all evidence that would have nailed him might have been exhausted these past twelve years by his competent prosecutors.

I am therefore pleading with you, President Goodluck Jonathan to consider extending amnesty to Mustapha and his colleagues in the spirit of national reconciliation and true forgiveness. As a national leader and father, I know their continued detention prick your conscience and draw your sympathy. The world now sees their detention from the prism of gross abuse of human rights and I am sure that is not the way you would want the international community to perceive your government.

The cases of the Niger Delta militants and many others, who you graciously forgave, have clearly portrayed you as a listening and compassionate President. Here comes another opportunity to reinforce this and endear you to many of us who have conquered the imaginary barriers of ethnic brinkmanship with the belief that recognizing our common humanity is the surest way to national rebirth. A belief we know that you share.

Thank you in advance and accept my most respectful compliments.

Uche Igwe, Africa Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington DC, USA. ucheigwe@gmail.com