Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, former special adviser on National Assembly Matters to former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari said former leaders, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shagari, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar have disappointed Nigerians for endorsing the state pardon extended to the former Bayelsa Chief Executive, Deprieye Alamieyeseigha who was convicted for financial crime. According to him, the role of the former Heads of State in the questionable amnesty would no doubt lower their estimation in the eyes of the public locally and internationally.
Yakassai, who spoke in an interview on Sunday in Kano noted that the idea of bringing former Heads of State together is for them to offer credible advise to the leadership using their experience and maturity, adding: “this is why I was clearly disappointed that the body is gradually turning to a rubber stamp for the President by its endorsement of such questionable action.
“I am disappointed by this development not because I have anything against the former Bayelsa governor, whom I have known since he left the Nigerian Air Force but it’s a different situation now, its on record that this is a person, who was convicted on charges of corruption of monumental magnitude.”
He noted that the act by the federal government does not portray Nigeria as a country determined to fight bribery and corruption.
Yakasai added that “because such a pardon could not have been granted without the Council, more so that the calibre of people that constitute the NCS are leaders respected locally and internationally who should not have endorsed such pardon. Now, for us to pardon a man like Alamieyeseigha without any condition does not speak well of us as a nation.”
He then called on leaders “particularly the former Heads of State to avoid issues that would dent their credibility or lower their estimation in the eyes of the public , locally and internationally as evident in the chains of reactions that had trailed the current issue.”
Meanwhile, The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has called for understanding by Nigerians on the amnesty granted by President Goodluck Jonathan to former governor of Bayelsa state, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, former Bank Executive, Shettima Bulama and others, stating that the president took the action in good faith.
Tukur, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, said the beneficiaries of the state pardon deserved the merit based on their conduct over the years as well as the good contributions they had continued to make in the task of ensuring peace, progress and prosperity of Nigeria.
The Federal Government had, last week, announced pardon for Alamieyeseigha, Bulama and five others including, the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; former Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant. General Oladipo Diya; former Minister of Works, the late Major General Abdulkareem Adisa; ex-Major Bello Magaji and Alhaji Mohammed Lima Biyu, a step which continued to generate controversy and condemnation from across the globe.
Tukur berated the opposition parties for inciting Nigerians on the issue through the media, stating that the idea of granting amnesty fell within the exclusive powers of the president as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, adding that Jonathan consulted widely before taking the step.
He said it was wrong for any political party, group or individual to harass President Jonathan for granting pardon to those who deserved such, stating that the beneficiaries of the amnesty had, over the years, shown by their conduct that they deserved to be pardoned.
He said granting of Amnesty is a clear cut means of getting the best attitude out of individuals as instituted in the political programmes of different countries across the world, stating,” Do you ever grant pardon to the innocent”
Former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, and a socio crusader, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has stated that the pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyesiegha, was another means of encouraging corruption in the country.
Tsav, who spoke with newsmen in Makurdi, on Sunday, described the pardon as charade and nepotism, stating that it was coming from the president to his former boss.
According to him, ‘the state pardon granted Alamieyesiegha by President Goodluck Jonathan was a charade to favour his former master and thus encourage corruption in the country. He noted that the inclusion of Generals Oladipo Diya and Adisa was to deceive Nigerians and justify his nepotism because, according to him, the duo had already been pardoned by former head of state, General Abubakar Abdusalam in 1999.
He further said, “Jonathan is a liability to Nigeria” and asked rhetorically “why did he not extend the pardon to Al-Mustapha” lamenting that the country in this present dispensation was drifting to a dangerous level.
Would the state pardon be extended to James Ibori and others as well???
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