The family of the late General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 for an alleged coup plot against the government of General Ibrahim Babangida, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting a state pardon to the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to Mediaplusng.com, the family describes the gesture as a long-awaited act of justice and compassion. General Vatsa, who was also a renowned poet and respected military officer, was executed along with nine others after a military tribunal found them guilty of plotting a coup.
For nearly four decades, the Vatsa family has maintained that the late General was innocent, claiming the charges were politically motivated. They have also made several appeals to successive governments to clear his name and allow the family to establish a foundation in his honour.
In a statement released in Minna, the family spokesperson, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa—former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Niger State—said President Tinubu’s decision has brought healing after 39 years of pain and sorrow.
> “Today is the happiest moment for the family after years of grief. Though nothing can bring him back, President Tinubu has shown true statesmanship. He has written his name in gold, and history will remember him,” Jonathan Vatsa said.
He added that the family still believes the 1986 coup charge was a frame-up, describing the trial as “stage-managed” to eliminate General Vatsa out of envy and hatred.
Citing the late General Domkat Bali, Vatsa recalled that even senior military officers had expressed doubts about the evidence used against the late General. “The evidence was weak, and the execution unjustified,” he said.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the family believes the state pardon is a victory for truth and a moment of closure. “Justice can be delayed but never denied. We thank God that some of his children and grandchildren are alive to witness this pardon,” Vatsa concluded
