Worried by hostile
reactions from some Nigerians and the United States Government over state
pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,
among other VIPs, President Goodluck Jonathan has turned to European countries
to seek for their understanding over the controversial decision.
reactions from some Nigerians and the United States Government over state
pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,
among other VIPs, President Goodluck Jonathan has turned to European countries
to seek for their understanding over the controversial decision.
Saturday Sun gathered
that the meeting, where President Jonathan pleaded with European Union (EU)
governments, was held at the Presidential Villa last Monday, with EU
ambassadors in Nigeria in attendance.
that the meeting, where President Jonathan pleaded with European Union (EU)
governments, was held at the Presidential Villa last Monday, with EU
ambassadors in Nigeria in attendance.
Reliable sources told
Saturday Sun: “The meeting was urgently called by the president to forestall
possible negative reactions from EC (European countries), some of who are
natural allies of the US on global issues, following the US public
condemnations and threats of sanctions against the Nigerian government over the
state pardon granted Alamieyeseigha and others.
Saturday Sun: “The meeting was urgently called by the president to forestall
possible negative reactions from EC (European countries), some of who are
natural allies of the US on global issues, following the US public
condemnations and threats of sanctions against the Nigerian government over the
state pardon granted Alamieyeseigha and others.
There have been
widespread local and international condemnations of the pardon granted Alamieyeseigha
and former CEO of Bank of the North, Alhaji Shettima Bulama by President
Jonathan through the National Council of States. While Nigerians cried blue
murder, the U.S embassy in Nigeria, in a tweet on Friday last week, said it was
“deeply disappointed” over the pardon.
widespread local and international condemnations of the pardon granted Alamieyeseigha
and former CEO of Bank of the North, Alhaji Shettima Bulama by President
Jonathan through the National Council of States. While Nigerians cried blue
murder, the U.S embassy in Nigeria, in a tweet on Friday last week, said it was
“deeply disappointed” over the pardon.
Also, a second tweet from
the embassy simply said: “We see this as a setback in the fight against
corruption.”
the embassy simply said: “We see this as a setback in the fight against
corruption.”
This led to a diplomatic
row, as the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying it
was urgently calling James P. McAnulty, the U.S. deputy chief of mission, for a
meeting while it called the U.S. remarks “undue interference and
meddlesomeness,” since the president had followed the provision of the Nigerian
constitution granting him the power to issue pardons.
row, as the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying it
was urgently calling James P. McAnulty, the U.S. deputy chief of mission, for a
meeting while it called the U.S. remarks “undue interference and
meddlesomeness,” since the president had followed the provision of the Nigerian
constitution granting him the power to issue pardons.
“The ministry finally
expressed the hope that the embassy of the United States of America would
henceforth desist from making unwarranted comments on Nigeria’s internal
affairs, which are capable of undermining the friendly relations that exist
between them,” the statement said.
expressed the hope that the embassy of the United States of America would
henceforth desist from making unwarranted comments on Nigeria’s internal
affairs, which are capable of undermining the friendly relations that exist
between them,” the statement said.
In Washington, State
Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland said the “recent pardons of corrupt
officials by the Nigerian government” are a setback for the U.S. support to
strengthen the rule of law in Nigeria, “which is very important for the future
of the country.”
Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland said the “recent pardons of corrupt
officials by the Nigerian government” are a setback for the U.S. support to
strengthen the rule of law in Nigeria, “which is very important for the future
of the country.”
She hinted that the
pardons could have repercussions on U.S. assistance programmes. “We have made
clear to the Nigerians that this puts a question mark on the kinds of work that
we’ve been trying to do with them,” she said.
pardons could have repercussions on U.S. assistance programmes. “We have made
clear to the Nigerians that this puts a question mark on the kinds of work that
we’ve been trying to do with them,” she said.
No sanctions or punitive
measures have been taken, she said, “but we’re continuing to look at what’s
appropriate.”
measures have been taken, she said, “but we’re continuing to look at what’s
appropriate.”
Sensing that some equally
influential European countries, especially the United Kingdom, Germany, France
and others, may toe the line of the US government on the issue, the president
moved swiftly to hold the secret meeting with the ambassadors on Monday night,
in a bid to keep the parley and its details away from public knowledge.
influential European countries, especially the United Kingdom, Germany, France
and others, may toe the line of the US government on the issue, the president
moved swiftly to hold the secret meeting with the ambassadors on Monday night,
in a bid to keep the parley and its details away from public knowledge.
One of the diplomats at
the meeting however, told Saturday Sun: “The meeting was called by the Nigerian
president mainly to plead with the EU ambassadors to convince our home
governments to show understanding over the pardon granted some convicted
leaders. President Jonathan was humble enough to plead for understanding in
case his decision has affected the relationship between Nigeria and the EC.
the meeting however, told Saturday Sun: “The meeting was called by the Nigerian
president mainly to plead with the EU ambassadors to convince our home
governments to show understanding over the pardon granted some convicted
leaders. President Jonathan was humble enough to plead for understanding in
case his decision has affected the relationship between Nigeria and the EC.
“We sought clarifications
and his government’s commitment to the Nigerian anti-corruption war because the
EU is the largest foreign donor to the work of the anti-graft agencies and the
judiciary in Nigeria, and he gave assurances, citing some recent government
actions to buttress his commitment. We only assured him that we would convey
his message to our home governments where final decisions are taken on what may
be our individual or collective response on such issues.
and his government’s commitment to the Nigerian anti-corruption war because the
EU is the largest foreign donor to the work of the anti-graft agencies and the
judiciary in Nigeria, and he gave assurances, citing some recent government
actions to buttress his commitment. We only assured him that we would convey
his message to our home governments where final decisions are taken on what may
be our individual or collective response on such issues.
Meanwhile, it has also
been revealed that former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, who was convicted and sentenced to two and a
half years imprisonment in 2009 for contract fraud, was on the initial list
prepared for state pardon by the Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke.
been revealed that former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, who was convicted and sentenced to two and a
half years imprisonment in 2009 for contract fraud, was on the initial list
prepared for state pardon by the Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke.
A presidential aide, who
confirmed this, said it took the intervention of several persons within the
president’s kitchen cabinet before George’s name was removed from the final
list presented to the National Council of States for approval.
confirmed this, said it took the intervention of several persons within the
president’s kitchen cabinet before George’s name was removed from the final
list presented to the National Council of States for approval.
“We have to remind the
AGF that Bode George has a pending case against his conviction at the Supreme
Court and the court should be allowed to decide it before any help can be
offered through state pardon.
AGF that Bode George has a pending case against his conviction at the Supreme
Court and the court should be allowed to decide it before any help can be
offered through state pardon.
That was the superior
argument that removed his (George’s) name from the list otherwise the backlash
effect would have been more than what we are trying to contend with at the
moment,” the source explained.
argument that removed his (George’s) name from the list otherwise the backlash
effect would have been more than what we are trying to contend with at the
moment,” the source explained.
When Saturday Sun sought
reaction of the Federal Government on the meeting with EU ambassadors, Foreign
Affairs Minister, Mr. Olugnenga Ashiru, said no such parley took place.
reaction of the Federal Government on the meeting with EU ambassadors, Foreign
Affairs Minister, Mr. Olugnenga Ashiru, said no such parley took place.
“There was nothing like
that, no meeting. We have no problem diplomatically with any country or group,”
he said.
that, no meeting. We have no problem diplomatically with any country or group,”
he said.
Source: Sun
