The thread title is different to that of the supporting article but the part in bold correctly justifies the choice of thread title.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/more-secrets-in-ex-bayelsa-govs-pardon/

More secrets in ex-Bayelsa governor’s pardon
Our Reporter March 23, 2013 31 Comments »

By ADE ALADE
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.
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.

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.
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.

Also, a second tweet from 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.
“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.

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.”
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.
No sanctions or punitive 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.

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.
“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.

[b]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.
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.
“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.
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.[/b]
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.
“There was nothing like that, no meeting. We have no problem diplomatically with any country or group,” he said.

Like i once said that Alamiesegha was the main target.
They could get a reason to remove olabode george but couldn't use the bail jumped by alamiesegha to exclude his name from the list of pardon granted.

Diya, tajudeen, adisa and yaradua's conviction were political and very obvious.

Alhaji shettima bulama's inclusion was just to pacify the north and bribe them cos they may revolt.

Jonathan is‎​ very shameless. It's obvious he's willing to destroy the soul of the nation over his 2015 ambition... Very shameful, I tell you...

Never has 'nearly' killed a bird.

PointB: Never has 'nearly' killed a bird.

It sure reveals how cheap and dirty one is‎​ on the inside...

Nearly pardoning Bode George shows how corrupt, rotten and irresponsible Mr. President is‎​..

I won't be surprised if GEJ decide to pardon Osama bn Laden....yap he's dead....buh don't ever underestimate Jonathan Stupidity.

lol

licensed2k: I won't be surprised if GEJ decide to pardon Osama bn Laden....yap he's dead....buh don't ever underestimate Jonathan Stupidity.

Well, Ali Baba (GEJ) needs his '40 thieves' for 2015 so Nigeria should prepare to see more 'recycled' and 'resurrected' distasteful characters between now and the PDP Primaries. GEJ has always been a desperate character but "very desperate times calls for very desperate measures" will be Mr. President's thinking. It is going to be interesting to watch the mother of all corruption that will engulf Nigeria before the PDP Primaries. Another round of open scamming like the fuel subsidy con.

Well, just like Bakare stated a few days ago.
PDP and presidency are busy pardoning rogues while the opposition are busy accepting rogues.

This whole thing is a mess!

Nuzo':
Well, just like Bakare stated a few days ago.
PDP and presidency are busy pardoning rogues while the opposition are busy accepting rogues.

This whole thing is a mess!

An incorrect analogy to make. The most controversial "rogue" Mr.President pardoned, or planned to pardon in this case, are convicted felons. The "rogues" you say the APC have accepted are , factually, rogues in your own mind in the sense that nothing is proven against them by a competent Court of law. You should get that fundamental difference correct.

My question is, Why is it not enough for Alams to live quietly and luxuriate in the billions he has stolen and would still have coming to him by virtue of being a kingpin of the Niger Delta and a benefactor of a sitting President who cares little about the market noise on corruption that is about to kill Nigeria?

Of course it is clear that the stage is only being set for worse "in your face" to come when Alams will run for Senate and (not to be ruled out) even President of Nigeria.

Oh dear! Jonathan can do anything he wants in his privacy and to his private estate, but to assault the conscience of the nation in this most disdainful manner is the unkindest cut of all! Yet for anyone to assume this is how the country will always be run is to live in a fool's paradise. One day, and soon enough, a Pharaoh will come who will not know Joseph.

Gbawe:

An incorrect analogy to make. The most controversial "rogue" Mr.President pardoned, or planned to pardon in this case, are convicted felons. The "rogues" you say the APC have accepted are , factually, rogues in your own mind in the sense that nothing is proven against them by a competent Court of law. You should get that fundamental difference correct.

Thanks for schooling me on the difference between a Nigerian convict and "alleged" Nigerian known rogues. I appreciate.

I'm actually going to bookmark this lesson should it be needed to teach some lost dude lesson in future.

PointB: Never has 'nearly' killed a bird.

The why behind the throwing of the stone is really important here. The moral behind the throwing of the stone - pardoning bode george, an ex-con, is the point here.

Jonathan is a staunch tribalist. No reason why George shouldn't have been pardoned if an international crook like alamsco was pardoned. its obvious that alams was the target.

Sibrah: The why behind the throwing of the stone is really important here. The moral behind the throwing of the stone - pardoning bode george, an ex-con, is the point here.

The 'nearly' here is that the whole thread is a much ado about nothing. Bode George was not pardoned - fact! The fact that Bode George was removed from the list means that despite his flaw, GEJ actually do listen. It is not all gloom and doom at the FG as many would have us believe

So how can we be discussing what nearly happen; to the point of blaming someone for not doing the wrong thing? When we should be praising him. But seeing the retardeen choirs following the lead of their choirmaster, I am not in anyway surprise. In their world any opportunity for propaganda should not be missed.

The pardon for Bode George was dropped because of the pending case? They should quickly dispense the case then so that Bode George's name can be included. Tafa Balogun should also be pardoned in addition to Cecilia Ibru.

Let Jonathan, in his 'renewed and vigorous anti-corruption drive' pardon all notorious persons that have looted public and private funds. Funny people. What have they turned Nigeria into?

By the way, where are the sane, objective and independent-minded person who are in support of Alamieyeseigha's pardon?

Mad leaders, madder followers!

See this classic (but shameful) quotable quote from none other than the Doyin Okupe - one of the misguided followers:

“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?”

I feel people should learn to be more careful in uncritically believing any Report that is based almost entirely on the increasingly common anonymous 'sources' type reporting, esp in the current poisoned national Political Environment.

President Jonathan should be impeached because he nearly pardoned @Gbawe.

Lack of negative report of recent is causing opposition elements chase shadows.

MaybeTinubu has no moral standing to be the leader of the Tinubu's APC because he was nearly convicted by the code of conduct bureau.
Lol...

Sincere 9gerian: President Jonathan should be impeached because he nearly pardoned @Gbawe.

Lack of negative report of recent is causing opposition elements chase shadows.

MaybeTinubu has no moral standing to be the leader of the Tinubu's APC because he was nearly convicted by the code of conduct bureau.
Lol...

In case you don't appreciate it, as citizens of politically sophisticated nations would, it is perfectly in order to assume this report is entirely correct given GEJ's odious and shameless pardon of Alamco. It is no different to a judge using past criminal offences to make certain conclusions about a defendant. Yet we know thinking is not your thing. Blind sycophancy is.

PointB:

The 'nearly' here is that the whole thread is a much ado about nothing. Bode George was not pardoned - fact! The fact that Bode George was removed from the list means that despite his flaw, GEJ actually do listen. It is not all gloom and doom at the FG as many would have us believe

So how can we be discussing what nearly happen; to the point of blaming someone for not doing the wrong thing? When we should be praising him. But seeing the retardeen choirs following the lead of their choirmaster, I am not in anyway surprise. In their world any opportunity for propaganda should not be missed.

You seem to be confusing 'pressure' with a 'listening ear' and 'weakness' for 'humility'.

White007: My question is, Why is it not enough for Alams to live quietly and luxuriate in the billions he has stolen and would still have coming to him by virtue of being a kingpin of the Niger Delta and a benefactor of a sitting President who cares little about the market noise on corruption that is about to kill Nigeria?

Of course it is clear that the stage is only being set for worse "in your face" to come when Alams will run for Senate and (not to be ruled out) even President of Nigeria.

Oh dear! Jonathan can do anything he wants in his privacy and to his private estate, but to assault the conscience of the nation in this most disdainful manner is the unkindest cut of all! Yet for anyone to assume this is how the country will always be run is to live in a fool's paradise. One day, and soon enough, a Pharaoh will come who will not know Joseph.

Crux of the matter. This is why I laugh at the sycophants of GEJ here who, if even minimally visionary, should engage themselves in efforts to implore their 'messiah' to lead well instead of daily backing his every 'throwback' actions.

Bottom line is that Nigeria cannot exist in a vacuum because the principle of minimum meritorious standard, that would disqualify the GEJ's and OBJ's of the World, is being embraced for the most important offices in African nations.

Nigeria, ultimately, will not continue to be an aberration. The only thing is that no one can say, with certainty, how "Pharaoh" will arrive. What is certain is that he must arrive or Nigeria will become unsustainable as a Nation under GEJ or another of his sort.

Am I surprised? Not at all. The criminal has no problem pardoning his fellow criminals. I'm sure he still plans to pardon Bode George before 2015 so he can "deliver" the South-West for PDP. I just hope Nigerians will vote with their brains in that election.