- As Abacha Opens Campaign Office
-Why GEJ Is Bent On Countering The Alliance Of Kwakwaso and Sanusi
- The Hamza Al-Mustapha Connection
Mohammed Abacha, the eldest surviving son of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, is set to contest the 2015 governorship election in Kano State, on the ruling party’s platform, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Presidency is said to be paving the way for him to clinch the job away from the grips of Kwankwaso and the All Progressives Congress machinery in the State.
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to join the All Progressives Congress last year is known to have earned the enmity of Aso-Rock over his political attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan. He is also said to be nursing a Presidential ambition which may see him clinch the APC ticket ahead of the 2015 elections.
Kwankwaso’s term in office as governor is expected to lapse in May 2015. According to the 1999 Constitution, he cannot seek re-election having been first sworn in as governor in 1999. Consequently, Kwankwaso is reportedly shopping for a successor.
Sources disclosed to The ELITES that President Jonathan is said to have been influential in the withdrawal of N446.3 billion money laundering charges against Mohammed Abacha so as to provide him with a clean slate to contest the Gubernatorial elections next year. Meanwhile, the federal government will on June 25, 2014 receive the sum of Euro 167 million ($227million) from the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, part of looted funds recovered from the Abacha family.
The ELITES also gathered that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Mohammed’s father, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was recently released after 14 years in prison, is actively involved in the new political alliance between the Presidency and the Abacha family. And according to plans, Al-Mustapha is to lead Mohammed’s campaign in Kano. Mohammed Abacha’s campaign posters are said to have flooded the town, along with posters of President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu. His campaign office is located along Audu Bako Way in Kano City.
Meanwhile, the federal government's decision to withdraw the money laundering charges against Abacha has continued to spark public outcry. Eminent lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye queried if the decision was done in the interest of justice. According to him, "This shows again that President Jonathan's administration uses criminal prosecution as instrument of political control. Today, they dropped the case against the Abacha family. Was that done in the interest of justice? Never! It was done simply to create new alliances in Kano to counter the alliance of Kwankwosa and the Emir.
The administration had thought that it had effectively used Shekaru to counter the Governor Kwankwosa. But with the emergence of Sanusi as the Emir, the President faces very serious opposition in Kano. If he goes to Kano, he won't go to the government house. He would not be warmly welcome at the Emir's palace. So, where would the President go to rest in Kano? He decided to make peace with the Abacha family so he would get one more ally to counter the forces of the Emir and the governor. Otherwise, why file this case against the Abacha family in February only to dismiss it today?
This is the shameful behaviour of Jonathan's administration in matter of justice and rule of law - using criminal indictment as a weapon to control people. It shows that their case against Abacha was politically motivated, their case against Sanusi was politically motivated too. When will they stop and prosecute people that have committed crimes to the end and leave those who they don't with to prosecute alone?"
Reports by ABEKE OLABODE
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