Posted by From Agaju Madugba in Kaduna on
Former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd) has asked President Olusegun Obasanjo to release the deposed Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo from detention.
Former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd) has asked President Olusegun Obasanjo to release the deposed Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo from detention.
Jokolo is being held at an undisclosed location in Nasarawa State. The detention Umar noted, violated the deposed ruler's rights and constituted a smear on the human rights posture of the Federal Government.
Umar who spoke with reporters in Kaduna yesterday said, 'I want to draw the attention of Nigerians to the plight of Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo.
"It is now two months since his deposition and he has not been allowed any visit by members of his immediate family.
'He is being held in solitary confinement and in the most harrowing condition, in Nasarawa State.
'This is a clear case of human rights violation and I urge government to respect the rights of the deposed Emir. Umar asked human rights groups to join the campaign for the release of Jokolo", he said.
According to him, 'they should speak out on this injustice and I want to remind them that this case is not different from that of the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who was held in similar conditions by the defunct General Sani Abacha's government.
'It will be unfortunately if human rights groups in the country fold their arms and watch the fundamental rights of Jokolo being breached in a democratic dispensation."