The
pardon granted a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, by the Federal Government may deepen the crisis between
President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
pardon granted a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, by the Federal Government may deepen the crisis between
President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Investigations by our correspondents indicated that the former
President, having known the agenda of the last meeting of the National Council
of State, where the pardon was granted, decided to be absent from it.
President, having known the agenda of the last meeting of the National Council
of State, where the pardon was granted, decided to be absent from it.
Apart from him, other heads of state who stayed away from the
meeting were Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
meeting were Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
It was during the regime of Obasanjo that the former governor
was impeached, arrested, prosecuted and convicted for corruption.
was impeached, arrested, prosecuted and convicted for corruption.
President Jonathan, who was deputy to Alamiesyeseigha, became
the governor when his boss was removed from office.
the governor when his boss was removed from office.
The conviction of the former governor was one of the major
achievements of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which was
established by the regime of former President Obasanjo.
achievements of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which was
established by the regime of former President Obasanjo.
The commission was then headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Before taking this controversial decision, the regime of
President Jonathan had been accused of not doing enough to fight corruption.
President Jonathan had been accused of not doing enough to fight corruption.
Obasanjo is among those who have criticised the regime in this
regard.
regard.
He had also said President Jonathan’s regime was not doing
enough to combat insecurity in the country.
enough to combat insecurity in the country.
Their face-off was said to have been responsible for the sack of
Obasanjo’s loyalists as officials of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Obasanjo’s loyalists as officials of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The party, mandated the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
party, Chief Tony Anenih, to visit Obasanjo and reconcile him with the party.
party, Chief Tony Anenih, to visit Obasanjo and reconcile him with the party.
But with the pardon granted the former governor, Presidency
sources said the reconciliation would be difficult to achieve between the
President and Obasanjo.
sources said the reconciliation would be difficult to achieve between the
President and Obasanjo.
Besides, the source, who pleaded anonymity, said the President’s
action might also help the opposition to consolidate on their war against the
ruling party.
action might also help the opposition to consolidate on their war against the
ruling party.
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Political
Matters, Ahmed Gulak, refuted this.
Matters, Ahmed Gulak, refuted this.
He said the President was merely exercising his constitutional
powers, adding that the former President also granted amnesty to the former
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Salisu Buhari, who was then
convicted for perjury.
powers, adding that the former President also granted amnesty to the former
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Salisu Buhari, who was then
convicted for perjury.
In an interview with one of our correspondents, Gulak said
Jonathan granted the former governor the pardon in exercise of his powers under
the constitution and in due consultation with the National Council of State.
Jonathan granted the former governor the pardon in exercise of his powers under
the constitution and in due consultation with the National Council of State.
He wondered how the President’s constitutional action could
cause a rift between him and anybody.
cause a rift between him and anybody.
Gulak said those who had been criticising the President’s
decision were only being mischievous.
decision were only being mischievous.
He said, “I don’t know why people are so particular about
Alamieyeseigha. This man has served his term and is currently contributing to
ending militancy in the Niger Delta.
Alamieyeseigha. This man has served his term and is currently contributing to
ending militancy in the Niger Delta.
“Why are they not talking about (Gen. Oladipo) Diya? Why are
they not talking about Bulama? Is Alamieyeseigha not a Nigerian?
they not talking about Bulama? Is Alamieyeseigha not a Nigerian?
“Is it because he is from Bayelsa, the same state with the
President? President Jonathan does not consider such a myopic factor when
taking decisions. He has constitutional power to grant pardon and he has
exercised that power.
President? President Jonathan does not consider such a myopic factor when
taking decisions. He has constitutional power to grant pardon and he has
exercised that power.
“People should stop being mischievous on the matter. Obasanjo
too gave presidential pardons during his time. A case in point here is that of
Salisu Buhari.”
too gave presidential pardons during his time. A case in point here is that of
Salisu Buhari.”
Meanwhile, The Ijaw Republican Assembly has termed as childish
the reports that the presidential pardon granted Alamieyeseigha, was connected
with the President’s ambition to run for a second term in 2015.
the reports that the presidential pardon granted Alamieyeseigha, was connected
with the President’s ambition to run for a second term in 2015.
The group said Jonathan needed not the support of Alamieyeseigha
to get the support of the Niger Delta for a second term.
to get the support of the Niger Delta for a second term.
The spokesperson for the Ijaw Republican Assembly, Annkio
Briggs, told SUNDAY PUNCH that it was only people that were
politically and economically greedy in the region that would not support
Jonathan.
Briggs, told SUNDAY PUNCH that it was only people that were
politically and economically greedy in the region that would not support
Jonathan.
“It was not Jonathan’s decision as a person, it was the
unanimous decision of all the members of the Council of State. To narrow it
down to Jonathan’s interest in 2015 is mischievous,” he said.
unanimous decision of all the members of the Council of State. To narrow it
down to Jonathan’s interest in 2015 is mischievous,” he said.
Source: Punch
