OBJ's Letter: Al-mustapha Challenges Obasanjo to Public Debate Over Allegations.

The former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, Sani Abacha, Hamza Al- Mustapha, has responded to the allegations by former president Olusegun Obasanjo contained in his famous letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that he (Al- Mustapha) was released from prison to help the president train assassins to eliminate opposition politicians.

Speaking to the Hausa Service of the Voice
of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja on
Wednesday, Mr. Al-Mustapha challenged
the ex-president to a public debate on the
allegations he raised.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he was away in
India receiving treatment for injuries he
sustained while in detention during the
administrations of Abdulsalami Abubakar
and Mr. Obasanjo when he heard of the
allegations via a letter published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES.
"I read Obasanjo's letter and subsequent
comments by Nigerians, I would have
responded immediately, but I was away in
India receiving treatment," he said. He also
said although his name was not mentioned in
the letter, he was sure the former president was referring to him. "If he has anything to
say on me, he should mention me directly or
even challenge me and not make allusions,"
Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
The former presidential security chief
challenged Mr. Obasanjo to publicly ask
him anything. He promised to provide OBJ
with answers. Mr. Al-Mustapha swore that
the allegation that he is being used by Mr.
Jonathan to train assassins is false.
According to his words, he has always been in the vanguard of coming to the aide of people from the north to be recruited into the military and para-military agencies.
The official added that he would therefore never involve himself in anything that would hurt the region. "Perhaps it is Obasanjo and his cronies that are planning what he was insinuating," he added. Mr. Al-Mustapha also said he had decided
to forgive all those who had a hand in his
incarceration when he was being tried for
the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the
winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential
election, Kudirat Abiola. He was initially convicted for the murder by a Lagos High Court but was discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
He lamented that some people, including
Mr. Obasanjo, failed to accept that fact
and still harbour fears about him and what
he knows about them. "I urge everyone to pray for Obasanjo to accept my challenge for a public debate so that the truth will come out," he said.