Danjuma Michael
5 November 2009
Katsina — Following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's political associate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Alhaji Tasiu Mashi in Katsina, his family members have called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, to order an investigation into what led to his death.
The call for investigation by the family is coming on the heels of circumstances that led to the death of the PDP member, popularly known as Tasi Elder who was alleged to have died while in police custody early this week.
Spokesperson for the family and elder brother of the deceased, Alhaji Musa Mashi, said the call to the IGP became necessary in view of the fact that his brother died mysteriously and that a full investigation was necessary to unveil the cause of his death.
Mashi said the idea that his brother died from natural cause was unfounded and that there was suspicion he had died of poisoning which he alleged was perpetrated by those opposed to the ideals his late brother stood for.
Sources say Mashi was invited by the Police at the state's Command's Headquarters alongside others on a reconciliatory meeting organised as result of clashes that had erupted in Mashi council area between two factions of the party in the state.
Earlier, the State's Police Commissioner, Dan'azumi Job Doma, had told reporters that the late politician had died during a reconciliatory meeting between him and aggrieved members of the PDP in the state which had led to the clash in Mashi council area.
Doma said Mashi suddenly became motionless and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina where he was certified dead, adding that the incident occurred while one of the complainants, chairman of Mashi council area, Alhaji Surajo Mashi, was making a submission.
The police commissioner said there were people present when the incident occurred including the PDP chairman from Mashi council area, Alhaji Badamasi Yellow, the state director of the SSS, the Commanding Officer of the Nigeria Army's 35 Motorised Battalion, Katsina as well as several top police officers.
Due to circumstances that led to his death, sources said a post mortem was ordered by a top PDP political office holder in Abuja, and the body later handed over to the family members for burial.
But the lawyer of the deceased, Mr. Ernest Obunadike, expressed dissatisfaction over the post mortem, saying an autopsy should have been carried out instead, adding that a definite position is yet to be taken to either accept or reject the circumstances that led to his death.
Obunadike maintained that a meeting would be convened after the funeral rites between the deceased person's family members and political associates to determine next step of action to take on the matter.
The late Mashi has since been buried in his home village in Mashi, where hundreds of sympathisers trooped in to commiserate with the deceased politician's family members.
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