•Says Fasehun betrays Yoruba trust and confidence
The seeming relaxed row between the founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC,) Dr. Frederick Fasehun and the Coordinator
of the group, Otunba Gani Adams may have reared its head again as the
latter has described the role of the former on the recent release of the
Aide De Camp (ADC) of former military Head of State, late Sani Abacha,
Maj. Al-Mustapha (rtd) as a betrayal of trust and confidence.
Saturday Newswatch recalled that Fasehun had not only canvassed the
release of Al-Mustapha but went with him to his Kaduna home on his
release last Friday.
Speaking with Saturday Newswatch yesterday,
Otunba Adams described Fasehun’s position as a sheer betrayal of the
trust and confidence the Yoruba people have in him, cautioning: “I think
he is going out of hand on the issue of Mustapha because he is not the
only one that fought for his release.”
Adams stated that he was
initially opposed to Mustapha’s release because it would only encourage
those in power to commit crime with impunity, “It would also set bad
precedence and bad reference to our judicial system because it would be
erroneously referred to.
“I don’t have anything against the release
of Al-Mustapha, yet I cannot betray my Yoruba people and the race for
anything; the interest of Yoruba is paramount to me and my genuine
supporters,” he posited.
He however accused Fasehun of recklessly
pursuing material gain beyond moral bound, describing the situation as
unnecessary sympathy for financial and political gains.
He said:
“Mustapha visited Prophet T.B. Joshua and others the way he visited
Fasehun, no one saw it proper and fit to follow him to Kaduna like
Fasehun. I am forced to conclude that a lot of material gains are meant
for grab unless he is ready to explain why he was the only one that
followed him home.”
Adams declared that whatever Fasehun did or said there was not the position of OPC but his personal opinion and position.
Earlier in a press statement, Adams through his Oodua Republic Front
(ORF) said: “We hereby distance ourselves from the weighty support
thrown behind Al-MUSTAPHA the murderer of the matriarch of democracy
Kudirat Abiola. Though we foresee fowl play from the beginning of the
hearing but we assure all and sundry that believes in a sincere justice
and people-oriented judgment, that the blood of every martyr of
democracy will form a merger to hunt down every betrayer of Yoruba tribe
who believe they can negotiate justice for a plate of ‘tuwo’.
“We
distance ourselves from the show of shame embarked upon by Dr. Frederick
Fasehun by riding on a paper horse claiming to be representing our
collective decision; Yorubas are known to be omoluwabi (gentlemen). In
this case some Yoruba figures should be prepared to explain their role
in the deals that released AL MUSTAPHA. They neither represent our
opinion or decision. However, time will tell as event unfolds, the goat
will be separated from the sheep,” it concluded.
Adams explained
that he had vowed not to confront Fasehun again for anything, but
couldn’t help refrain when it bothered on the Yoruba interest and more
so that the murder of Kudirat Abiola then was a direct affront on the
Yoruba race by the military government of Sani Abacha.
“This one, I
cannot help but to condemn without second thought. Rather than join
forces to prosecute Al-Mustapha and ensure that justice is brought
against the man that killed his kin, Fasehun decided to throw caution
into the winds by publicly scornfully humiliating the Abiola family and
the entire race. I condemn this totally,” he posited.
Source: Daily Newspapers
