Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Head-of-State, Gen. Sani Abacha, has challenged ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, to a public debate on any issue concerning Nigeria.Al-Mustapha threw the challenge in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, monitored in Abuja, on Wednesday.The former CSO was reacting to news reports about portions of a letter written by Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that snipers were being trained in North Korea.He explained that he was not around when Obasanjo’s letter became public, but read about it in the media.The military officer said ex-President Obasanjo knows that he knows Nigeria as much as he (Obasanjo) knows the country. As such, he was ready to face the former President anywhere in the world to discuss Nigeria.Al-Mustapha said “first of all, he (Obasanjo) did not mention me by name in his letter. Secondly, he knows that “I know Nigeria as much as he does, if he has something to tell me, I want him to come out and tell me straight.“He should ask me or challenge me, I challenge him to (discuss) anything about Nigeria that he wants to talk about even long before he became Head-of-State (1976-1979), I am ready to meet him in public anywhere in the world”.Responding to a specific question on allegations that he was privy to the on-going training of snipers, Al-Mustapha swore that there was nothing of the sort.The former CSO said he is a Muslim and has over the years facilitated the recruitment of northerners
into security agencies and has never been involved in anything to betray the north.Al-Mustapha also said he has forgiven all those who harmed him during his travails.He observed that people who did not fear God find it difficult to understand how sincere he is when he said he has forgiven all. He accused an unnamed individual based in Kaduna, for spreading falsehood about his person and his activities.According to him, from 1974 till date, there have been so many secrets that encouraged lies to cover the truth. This, he said could be cleared up if Obasanjo takes up the challenge to face him in public.
