The family of the first civilian governor of Ondo state, Chief Adekunle Ajasin has debunked reports that their father was imprisoned by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari when he took over as head of state.
According to Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, the scion of the late governor, who is the spokesman of the family, Buhari’s military government only detained the late Afenifere leader but subsequently released him after interrogation.
The family cautioned the PDP to stop using their father’s name to campaign against the APC, especially because the family has since forgiven Buhari over the arrest of Ajasin in 1984.
Speaking to journalists, Tokunbo Ajasin said that the late his father forgave Buhari long before his death.
He said, “It will be totally wrong for anybody to say that Gen. Buhari ‘s government jailed my father. No, that is not correct. It was true that my father was detained under Buhari’s military regime along with other former governors in Nigeria and two panels of inquiry were consequently set-up to look into the allegations against my father and others. But the panels found my father innocent and exonerated him as well.
“What Buhari did then was part of military policies and tradition. Though many Nigerians were not happy with that, but my father had since forgiven Buhari before his demise.
“As far as the issue is concerned, the family of Ajasin had forgiven Buhari as well. Because as Christians we should exhibit the spirit of forgiveness always. The bible says Father forgive us as we forgive those who offend us.”
The former governor’s son said he met Buhari at a function sometime ago where the duo happily embraced each other, indicating that the disagreement was over.