The surviving victims of the alleged 1995 and 1997 coup plots have issued a renewed open letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging him “to right the wrongs of the past, heal past wounds that have festered for far too long and wipe off sorrows and bewilderment” inflicted upon them.
The plea, which came 30 years after their ordeal, was contained in an open letter signed by one of the officers, Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba (retd) on behalf of Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze, Colonel Gabriel Ajayi (late), Colonel Roland Emokpae, Colonel Edwin Jando, Colonel Babatunde Bello-Fadile, Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba, and Commodore Dennis Omesa.
The affected officers called on the president to implement the recommendations of the Oputa Panel, which had investigated human rights violations under military rule and proposed reparations for victims.
They highlighted the suffering endured by those accused of plotting against the military regime in the 1990s, noting that many of the officers were arrested, tortured, and detained without trial under the late General Sani Abacha’s dictatorship, with their careers and lives irreparably damaged.
“For some 30 years, we have waited for justice, our hopes raised and dashed with each change of administration. With you is our renewed hope.
“We are convinced that your presidency marks a new chapter in our quest for justice,” the letter stated.
The officers recounted the dashed hopes of 1993, when Nigeria seemed poised for democracy, only for the military to tighten its grip on power.
They further disclosed that the Oputa Panel, set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, had recommended a series of measures to compensate and rehabilitate the victims, but successive governments have failed to act on these findings.
“While demanding justice, we appeal to find favour from your gracious and generous presence, Mr President.
“We seek the implementation of the Oputa Panel’s recommendations, including promotion to our rightful ranks, a letter of apology, and comprehensive rehabilitation,” they wrote.
They added, “We also request that you endorse the reliefs and compensation recommended by the Oputa Panel.”
Their plea emphasised the urgency of their situation, with many of their colleagues having passed away without seeing justice.
The surviving officers lamented the hardships they have endured, emphasising that several among them are still suffering from indignity and deprivation.
They pointed out that previous gestures of recognition, such as former President Muhammadu Buhari’s posthumous honour for Chief MKO Abiola and the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day, had demonstrated that historic wrongs could be addressed.
The officers therefore urged President Tinubu to extend similar justice to them.
The letter, written with a mix of trepidation and hope, acknowledged Tinubu’s legacy as a champion of justice.
The officers stated, “Your Excellency has always stood for justice and genuine and immediate recompense.
“It is with absolute trust that you will finally break the cycle of disappointment and provide us with the needed relief that we are writing you this open letter.”
Among the key demands reiterated by the officers are: A formal apology from the government; compensation for the suffering they endured; restoration of their ranks and benefits; promotion to the ranks they would have attained had their careers not been disrupted, and comprehensive rehabilitation.
“Mr President, the time has come to right the wrongs of the past, to heal the wounds that have festered for far too long.
“By implementing the recommendations of the Oputa panel, you have the power to bring closure to our long-suffering souls, restore our faith in justice, and reaffirm your administration’s commitment to the rule of law,” they wrote.
More details here...
