By Tina George, Minna
The family of late General Mamman Vatsa and the Gulu community in Lapai local government area of Niger state, have called on president Muhammadu Buhari to grant the late Vatsa pardon.
Making the plea while speaking with newsmen in Minna over the weekend, the spokesperson, Mr Jonathan Vatsa said that General Vatsa should be pardoned the same way Chief MKO Abiola and others were pardoned in the past.
Expressing sadness over their inability to give their father proper burial after his execution for suspected participation in a coup plot 35 years ago, the family said the pardon would enable the proper conduct his burial as well as set up a foundation in his name.
Jonathan pointed out that the effect of the excution of the late Vatsa had impacted greatly on Gulu community, adding that the unwillingness of the federal government to clear his name, have continued to be a source of sadness to the family and community.
“Thirty-five years after he is dead, the Vatsa family have not given their father a proper burial. If this pardon is granted, it will enable the family and community to be able to give our father a proper and grand burial that he deserves. But we cannot do these without the pardon.
“It is painful to us as a family that he was executed as a coup plotter even when he was not. Even if at all he carried out the said offence, we are appealing to the Presidency to grant him pardon,” he said.
The Jonathan further disclosed the plan of the family to set up a foundation in the name of General Mamman Vatsa, stating that this cannot be done without the federal government granting the late general a pardon.
He also called on the former school mates and friends of the late Vatsa, who are still alive to support the family and Gulu community in convincing the President on the need to grant the late general a pardon.
“We are calling on his friends, school and course mates to join in this call to President Buhari, to grant him pardon so that his soul can have eternal and proper rest. The family will also be very happy if this can be done,” Jonathan stated.
Vatsa, who was Minister of the FCT before his execution on the 5th of March 1986, was suspected to have participated a coup plot.
