Bolade Omonijo
10 January 2001
opinion
Lagos — "On December 13, 1997 there was an assassination attempt on me. On this day I was scheduled to travel to Markurdi for the burial ceremony of the mother of Major-Gen Lawrence Onoja who was my Principal Staff Officer.
"My travel itinerary had earlier been released to all the staff but a few minutes to the scheduled take-off time, I developed stomach upset which caused the delay for 10 minutes. But for this seeming delay, I owe my life.
"On my way to the airport, at about 9a.m. we met Major Mustapha coming from the opposite direction not far from Abuja city gate. Apparently he was coming from the airport.
"Since General Abacha was not traveling that day I was surprised to see Major Mustapha coming from the airport but I didn't know something was in the offing.
"As we were moving towards the runway, we heard a bang about 40 yards from us from a Peugeot 504. Immediately my security personnel cordoned off my vehicle and I was shepherded off to the presidential VIP lounge.
"The roof of the Peugeot car caved in and the two occupants were burnt to death. The two occupants were Sumaila Shaibu and Usman Sumaila. Later we discovered that the badly hurt Usman Sumaila was still alive and he was rushed to Gwagwalada General Hospital. He fingered Mustapha as the one who recruited him into the Strike Force of General Abacha. He was then moved to Aso Rock Clinic where he later died, and was handed over to Lt Col. Ibrahim Yakassai for burial.
"At that moment at the Presidential wing of the airport, I met Alhaji Ibrahim Gwarzo, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Territory, Alhaji Mustapha.
"The Commissioner of Police later addressed the press where he said the bomb blast was an accident involving the use of grenades. He promised that a thorough investigation would be carried out.
"The presence of these people showed a sinister motive, as the bomb was scheduled to blow off my vehicles.
"I later discovered that a high powered delegation was already in place to condole my family. I was the victim but NADECO was the target.
"Mr. Mohammed Labo and Mr. Supo Babalola of the Nigerian Television Authority who were witnesses successfully captured the incidence but they were summoned by Major Hamza Mustapha to edit any mention of name in the film. The report of the NTA was therefore misleading.
"General Abacha on December 15 1997 in the presence of Lt. General Jeremiah Hussein attempted a cover up of the incidence saying his security personnel had been playing with grenades at the time and that he had warned them several times against it. General Abacha could not however explain their presence at the airport even though he was not travelling. I did not believe his explanation and said it was a deliberate attempt to assassinate me but for divine intervention.
"Promises were made by both General Abacha and the Commissioner of Police Federal Capital Territory to investigate the bomb blast but till date there was nothing. Everything was swept under the carpet.
"Seven days later I was arrested in an arranged coup. These were all desperate attempts to get me out not by retirement but through death. All the attempts on the lives of those perceived as his enemies were sponsored by the presidency. I am therefore praying the commission to order and compel the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja command to publish the result of their findings and order a full investigation of the incidence in order to bring the culprits to book. I will also want the commission to summon Major Mustapha, and members of the Strike Force to throw more light on the matter.
"Lt. Col Yakassai should also be ordered to explain various sinister roles he played and the death of Sumaila and Usman."
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