Group commends Al-Mustapha’s peace effort in North

Emeka Ibemere

Take his name,Major Hamza Al-Mustaph to Google search engine, and what you get is--- 'former Chief Security Officer to ex-Head of State, Late General Sani Abacha'.

But he has gone beyond that. Now, he is a preacher of peace and promoter of unity in Nigeria.

This new status has caught the eye of a social cum political organisation known as Eastern Union, EU, who has risen to commend the peace move of Al-Mustapha in the North.

According to the Group, the EU, the need for peace and tranquility

in Nigeria in 2015 and beyond cannot be over emphasized.

 Charles Anike, EU’s National President said in press release on Monday that in the recent time, the peace and unity of this nation has been seriously threatened by the Boko Haram sectarian group as well as careless comments of some supposed well meaning Nigerians, who are secretly behind the insurgent goons.

“But the peace efforts and initiatives of such respected Nigerian, as Hamza Al-Mustapha who in the recent times is making spirited efforts to ensure a peaceful 2015 violent free election”, Anike stated

“This initiative among other efforts by some peace loving Nigerians is commendable and should be emulated by each everyone alike. Major Al- Mustapha knew very well that this country has co-existed as a nation for decades and therefore any effort by any group or persons to cause disaffection of the unity of Nigeria should never be tolerated”.

According to the Group, Boko Haram insurgence has unleashed terror on the lives and property of Nigerians. The group explained that they have killed thousands of innocent citizens, police and members of the Nigerian army alike.

“They attack barracks, ceases weapons and bombed several places and abducted citizens. Thank God for the recent successes recorded by the Nigerian army which Al-Mustapha was also part and parcel of”.

Al-Mustapha launched a platform known as the Al-Mustapha Peace, Unity and Development Initiative, which he seeks to use to promote peace in Nigeria, especially in the North.

It would be recalled that the released former suspect in the murder case of late MKO Abiola's wife, Kudirat Abiola, was let off the hook in June 2013, made a nationwide tour soliciting the support of eminent members of the society for peace in Nigeria.

Recently Al-Mustapha’s peace train moved to Warri, Delta State where he paid a courtesy call on the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oristejeafor.

He solicited the advice of Oristejeafor on how to stop the tide of the Boko Haram in the North.

Mustapha also revealed that some people are investing in the Boko Haram insurgents and were sponsoring propaganda against him and his current efforts.

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha said Nigerians are promoting insurgency in the North-east just as he proffered solutions on how to end the intractable crisis in the North-East of Nigeria.

The former CSO, who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of a non-governmental organization, Al-Mustapha Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (APUDI), told newsmen recently in a conference entitled:  

“Community Conflict and Youth Militancy in Northern Nigeria: Challenge of a Democratic Practice”, said it was a fact that because of ignorance from private and public sectors, the country has over the years promoted insurgency out of greed and selfishness. He also stated that peace and security should not be compromised in any way.

 “If you look closely at our environment, I will say because of ignorance from private and public sectors, we have over the years promoted causes of insurgency, some deliberately, some out of greed, some out of selfishness, some out of ignorance, this is a fact but when it comes to apportioning blames, that is another thing entirely and that is what I do not do”, he added.

“When a country finds itself in our situation, where damage control measures are of the essence, at that point in time, all agencies should now look very well at their limitations in terms of their primary and secondary assignments and find ways to address the problem. Peace and security should not be compromised in any way by any security agency”.

Al-Mustapha on how to end the Boko Haram illicit activities quipped. “Conventional approach to a conventional mode of fighting in any country is exactly what is required of the military and other agencies”, he stated, “where you have insurgency and such vices classified as or leading to low intensity conflict in any country as we have in the North-East, the obvious thing to do is to maximize information and secrecy”.

Meanwhile, Al-Mustapha charged media organizations in the country to work with security agencies in maximizing all classified information that would be supportive to counter-insurgency.