Joey82: President Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed the granting of presidential pardon to a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and a few other ex-convicts.

PREMIUM TIMES had broken the strory of the pardon while the meeting was underway Tuesday morning.

We also reported details of the proceedings minutes after the meeting ended.

Presidential spokespersons had gone underground for most of yesterday in what appeared a ploy to dodge media enquiry on the controversial pardon of a man who stole his people blind while governor.

But Mr. Jonathan, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doyin Okupe, has now confirmed our report.

He said he has no apology for his action.

Mr. Okupe spoke on Channels TV breakfast show, Sunrise.

“That is an action that has been taken by the National Council of States and I have no apology for that.” Mr. Jonathan said. “We must begin to respect and honour our institutions. I don’t need to defend the action that has been taken.”

When reminded that the action had created the impression that the government was not serious about the war against corruption, Mr. Jonathan said, “It is not all decisions parents take that are palatable for their kids. But with time they will realize that their parents are right.”

He said pardoning Mr. Alamieyeseigha was in order as the former Bayelsa governor had suffered enough.

“A man was deposed. He was hounded, tried and jail. What is wrong with giving pardon to a remorseful sinner?

“How come granting pardon to him has become an aberration? Is it because he is from Bayelsa? Is it from he is from South-South? Is it because he is connected to Mr. President?”


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/jonathan-confirms-pardon-alamieyeseigha-says-%E2%80%9Ci-owe-no-one-apology%E2%80%9D-premium-times

yuzedo:
Next to be pardoned = Bode George!

Fesisko: Gej,why can't you prove your critics wrong,even if its once?Pls where is mr insincere Nigeria?he alway hide his face,whenever trival issues like this re been discourse.I just can't wait to read his comment/reaction.defending the indefendable.wat a joke!

emmasege: If only the opposition could give us credible candidates that will be acceptable to majority of Nigerians. This GEJ of a man is the worst president Nigeria has ever had----- clueless,irrational, insensitive, indecisive, docile, impotent....... APC or whatever u call urself, pls give us credible opposition and let's show this man the way back to the creeks.

Ice4jez: becos he is well to do means we dat elect him der should not have a say when his actions affect our daily livess.God which school do u attend cos u re so clueless n retarded

Joey82: President Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed the granting of presidential pardon to a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and a few other ex-convicts.

PREMIUM TIMES had broken the strory of the pardon while the meeting was underway Tuesday morning.

We also reported details of the proceedings minutes after the meeting ended.

Presidential spokespersons had gone underground for most of yesterday in what appeared a ploy to dodge media enquiry on the controversial pardon of a man who stole his people blind while governor.

But Mr. Jonathan, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doyin Okupe, has now confirmed our report.

He said he has no apology for his action.

Mr. Okupe spoke on Channels TV breakfast show, Sunrise.

“That is an action that has been taken by the National Council of States and I have no apology for that.” Mr. Jonathan said. “We must begin to respect and honour our institutions. I don’t need to defend the action that has been taken.”

When reminded that the action had created the impression that the government was not serious about the war against corruption, Mr. Jonathan said, “It is not all decisions parents take that are palatable for their kids. But with time they will realize that their parents are right.”

He said pardoning Mr. Alamieyeseigha was in order as the former Bayelsa governor had suffered enough.

“A man was deposed. He was hounded, tried and jail. What is wrong with giving pardon to a remorseful sinner?

“How come granting pardon to him has become an aberration? Is it because he is from Bayelsa? Is it from he is from South-South? Is it because he is connected to Mr. President?”


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/jonathan-confirms-pardon-alamieyeseigha-says-%E2%80%9Ci-owe-no-one-apology%E2%80%9D-premium-times

Ozin:

My dear, help tell this holier than thou hypocrites. Obasanjo was pardoned to enable him contest the presidential elections... even though his offence was treasonable.

ypzilanti: Meanwhile, foreign press has started reporting this:

Nigeria pardons former political benefactor of president who stole millions as state governor.

LAGOS, Nigeria - A presidential adviser says Nigeria has pardoned the former political benefactor of the nation's president, convicted of stealing millions of dollars while serving as a state governor.

Adviser Doyin Okupe said Wednesday that Nigeria's Council of States, a group headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, had approved the pardon for former Bayelsa state Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The decision, made in a closed-door meeting Tuesday, was greeted by outrage across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation long considered by activists as having one of the world's most corrupt governments. Nuhu Ribadu, a former police officer and corruption fighter in Nigeria, told The Associated Press that the decision was "the final nail" in the coffin for fighting graft in the country.



Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Nigeria+pardons+former+political+benefactor+president+stole/8089030/story.html#ixzz2NPz9anBy

Ozin:

My dear, help tell this holier than thou hypocrites. Obasanjo was pardoned to enable him contest the presidential elections... even though his offence was treasonable.

ypzilanti: Meanwhile, foreign press has started reporting this:

Nigeria pardons former political benefactor of president who stole millions as state governor.

LAGOS, Nigeria - A presidential adviser says Nigeria has pardoned the former political benefactor of the nation's president, convicted of stealing millions of dollars while serving as a state governor.

Adviser Doyin Okupe said Wednesday that Nigeria's Council of States, a group headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, had approved the pardon for former Bayelsa state Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The decision, made in a closed-door meeting Tuesday, was greeted by outrage across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation long considered by activists as having one of the world's most corrupt governments. Nuhu Ribadu, a former police officer and corruption fighter in Nigeria, told The Associated Press that the decision was "the final nail" in the coffin for fighting graft in the country.



Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Nigeria+pardons+former+political+benefactor+president+stole/8089030/story.html#ixzz2NPz9anBy