THE Presidency on Thursday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s closeness to some corrupt ex-convicts did not contradict any law of the land nor the administration’s anti-corruption war.

“There is no law in Nigeria that says that a politician that has been jailed should not be going to the Villa and the Peoples Democratic Party does not have it in its constitution that he (the ex-convict) cannot come back to his party.

“Maybe if they review the constitution and put it there, it will be wrong. But for now, it is not wrong,” Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja.

Okupe organised the briefing to speak on the President’s commitment to the war against corruption, barely 24 hours after the global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, in its 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index put Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt nation in the world.

Okupe was asked if the President’s closeness to those who had been convicted for corruption was not an indication that the President was not serious about fighting the scourge.

He was asked to defend the frequent visits to the Presidential Villa by the likes of a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha; a former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; and a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George. All had served jailed terms for corruption charges.

Okupe answered, “There is no law that says if this man goes to jail, he cannot be a party member.

“Have you seen Bode George or any of these people and the President kissing or eating on the same table?

“If they meet at a political forum and Bode George is a leader of the party in Lagos and there is no law in Nigeria that says he should be isolated.

“Chief Obafemi Awolowo, did he not go to jail? People go to jail for different reasons.”

But when he was reminded that Awolowo did not go to jail because of corruption, Okupe sidestepped the observation.

Rather, he said, “There is no law in Nigeria that says that a politician that has been jailed should not be going to the Villa and the Peoples Democratic Party does not have it in its constitution, that he (the ex-convict) cannot come back to his party.

“Maybe if they (PDP leaders) review the constitution and put it there, it will be wrong. But for now, it is not wrong.”

Showing signs that he was upset by the questions, Okupe said he was astonished that Nigerians and journalists did not deem it fit to commend the President for having the political will to arraign the son of the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, for alleged corruption.

Mahmud, the son of Tukur and Nasir, the son of a former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, are currently facing charges at a Lagos High Court for allegedly stealing billions of naira through corrupt claims under the fuel subsidy regime.

Okupe said, “I’m surprised that you refused to acknowledge that the son of the serving National Chairman of the PDP has been arrested, has been arraigned and is undergoing prosecution.

“If President Jonathan does not have the political will, that is a suicidal move. President Jonathan is a politician by definition and by standing.

“If for instance, he intends to run in 2015 and Bamanga Tukur is the chairman, if he (Jonatha) does not have the political will he will not do what he has done.

“That is an unprecedented act and he deserves commendation.

“This is the man who will attend to the President if he needs something from the party. You are putting his son in the dock. You think that is not political will? Let us be fair to him.”

Okupe also defended the retention of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe and his counterpart in the Ministry of Labour, and Emeka Wogu, despite allegations of corruption levelled against the two.

While Orubebe was accused of receiving a house as a gift from a construction firm, Wogu was accused of using a company in which he had interest to benefit from the subsidy payment.

Okupe said it was wrong to expect the President to remove government officials over mere allegations, adding that those making the allegations must be courageous enough to show evidence.

“If the President fires every minister and every government official that people alleged, I doubt whether we will have 50 per cent remaining in government,” the presidential aide said.

He said there were documents that showed that “the (Labour) minister has no link with the issue of the company that has to do with the subsidy.”

Asked whether the reduction in the budget of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was not an indication that the Federal Government was not serious about the war against corruption, Okupe said no.

He said there were so many competing needs and that it was the duty of the government to balance such competing needs and find the most comfortable balance to distribute its resources.

www.punchng.com/news/okupe-defends-jonathans-friendship-with-vip-ex-convicts

for the first time

the wiser he is, the more foolish he becomes.

What else is new?

Bros Okups, you never cease to amuse us. Well done!

[size=14pt]Yeah, there is a law, its called Moral Law. Shame on the Party whose Leaders are Ex-convict.[/size]

I enjoy using the comedy technique of self-deprecation, but I'm not very good at it. Jonah is a big Mootola, Okupe a big Mutheer focker

THIS SPACE IS NOT 4 SALE.. Beware of the Mods

President Dog

these people have no conscience at all - and you can see if from the way they think, viewing corruption only from the legal perspective and not the moral perspective. n small time, gej is going to be asking on his livechat what message his body language is sending

He should remember Moussa Ibrahim spokesman of Gaddafi's regime . When this govt goes down he won't be spared, his family inclusive.

Can't wait for the handsome Ibori to come out.
Aso Ebi go be ONE IN TOWN!!!!

Can't wait for the handsome Ibori to come out.
Aso Ebi go be ONE IN TOWN!!!!
Ogharra go shake!!!!

2 more years!
Time to visit again to say hello.
Make I go book appointment jare!
Boy! The place is ALWAYS like a pilgrimage.
O great one!!!!

The fear of you is the beginning of wisdom for your Tinubutious wor-wor germ-h-enehmies!!!!
AWON ALAKIOKIJA OLE OIL BLOKOS!!!!

There is nothing bad as big as losing your conscience & integrity all in the name of protecting your mere job.

This man should just seal his lips.

Okupe's response reflects the reality of Nigerian politics, i.e. you need local godfathers to secure the votes for you in the absence of mass participation (not just to queue & vote) by those who claim to want something better than what we have presently.

Where do you think Tinubu's ACN gets all the money doled out for elections
Who are they giving the money to and for what purpose
We are mostly a bunch of idealist dreamers.

How many people here have [size=13pt]contributed anything meaningful- time, money, efforts,- to a political campaign[/size] at the LG, state or federal level for executive or legislative positions, for altruistic purpose

The thing is that truly there is no place in the constitution of the country that forbids the president from interacting with ex-convicts. The president is also a human being. O yes, that is true.

However, may I remind Dr. Okupe that a little leaven , they say, leavens a whole lot. The people a person moves with can determine where the person ends. So it is often said, 'Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you '.

Those men the President is romancing with, whether we like it or not, are part of the problems we have in this country. One way or the other, they chip unhealthy ideas into the president's already clustered mind. He should keep a safe distance from them, at least for as long as he is still in power. In advanced countries those CRIMINALS are isolated.

boko haram is to blame, smuggling ex cons into the villa! Damn terrorist!

When Dora advocated mental fitness test for political office holders she knew exactly what she was talking about!
It doesn't get worse than this!
Imagin Rupert Madoff being spotted at the White House! Obama would lose his job in a week!

He said there were so many competing needs and that it was the duty of the government to balance such competing needs and find the most comfortable balance to distribute its resources. ... so building of a 2BN naira banquet hall and 2BN Naira VP house is such a priority that can not be side stepped for the fight against corruption? Shame!

bigtt76: He said there were so many competing needs and that it was the duty of the government to balance such competing needs and find the most comfortable balance to distribute its resources. ... so building of a 2BN naira banquet hall and 2BN Naira VP house is such a priority that can not be side stepped for the fight against corruption? Shame!

Don't forget the city to be built in Abuja for Nigeria's 100 years of existence.
Yet we have loafing benchwarmers in the NASS as legisLOOTERs and SINators representing us whom we cannot petition to call the president to order on these anomalies!

Woe. i don tire 4 dis cursed country.

FRESH AIR

kunzel:




He said there were documents that showed that “the (Labour) minister has no link with the issue of the company that has to do with the subsidy.”



www.punchng.com/news/okupe-defends-jonathans-friendship-with-vip-ex-convicts

What document is this brainless fellow talking about? What document is more important than CAC's Form C07? I am not surprised though. How can a corrupt, decrepit bloke argue otherwise?

'DemocraZy' is Govt of the thieves, by the thieves and, for the thieves.

Of course, he should be friends with them, he is a criminal too, he hasn't just been convicted

GEJ is using them to catch and monitor their fellow thief. For you to catch a thief you need to use a thief since you cant thief

They are the good godfather now and meanwhile 2015 is ahead.

At least it shows the president's unseriouseness in fighting corruption. Thank God i am not related to this man in any way because he is a disgrace to who ever he is related to. Kai! Shame on you Mr.Okupe.

PDP

Demdem: technically, the dog okupe is right. Nothing in our law books suggest its illegal however considering the status of the Retardeen, perception goes a long way. it sends a message, it reveals the mindset of the occupier of aso-rock and determines where his priorities lies.
Show me ur friends and i wil most likely tell u who u are. Below are the core friends of the Retardeen.

Bode "tewonde" George
Alamiseigha
Igbinedion
Asari
Tompolo
Ateke
Boyloaf
Anenih
Etete
Uba etc

Impressive for a leader of a country, isn't it

h traitors lyk d fishman