Only in Nigeria can this happen. An ex-convict who went to prison for corruption is brought back to power by a lame duck president who also proudly declares another ex-con (Alamasiegha) his benefactor. Nigeria is doomed. Any wonder why Otedola/Lawan case has been swept under the carpet? Bankole roaming freely and enjoying his loot? We need a revolution in this country. We have a crook as president.

The Peoples Democratic Party has come under criticisms for appointing an ex-convict, Chief Bode George, into a panel to reorganise its Board of Trustees.

A Lagos High Court convicted George in 2009 for fraud after he served as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority. He spent two years in prison.

Legal practitioners as well as civil rights groups, Anti-Corruption Network and Coalition against Corrupt Leaders, on Sunday, condemned the PDP’s action, saying the party had no respect for the public.

Executive Secretary of ACN and former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, and the Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, said the PDP’s decision was akin to legalising corruption.

Melaye said, “Almost everybody in the party (PDP) is an ex-convict, only time will tell. The party is about corruption, so corruption and corrupt persons mean nothing to them. He (Bode George) is still carrying our national honours and so you can see.”

Adeniran said, “Nobody is expected to associate with a corrupt convict that has not been discharged of the burden of guilt because such people will not do anything to discourage similar crimes.

“He is not going to discourage people of doubting integrity from assuming office as a political leader. By implication, such characters will infest others with the criminal virus because he exemplifies corruption. And since like begets like, whatever decision taken by any committee he is a member can only be seen as lacking in integrity.”

But two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Rotimi Jacobs and Yusuf Ali, who spoke to our correspondents, differed on the issue.

Jacobs, who is a counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, while condemning the development, said it was an indication that the PDP was not sincere in its anti-corruption war.

He said, “Is that how the PDP will be fighting corruption? Is that how the ruling party will fight corruption? For a party that is supposed to be fighting corruption, it is a very sad development. It is the shame of a nation.”

But, Ali noted that despite his conviction, George had the right to belong to, and participate in the activities of a political party.

He added that the appointment was a PDP affair, and that the party was not the Federal Government.

Ali said, “The party is not the government. We should not equate the party with the government. Since he belongs to the party, he can function within the party.

“Even conviction cannot stop somebody from belonging to a group or a trade union. If he belongs to a group, he can take part in the activities of the group. It is different from taking public office.”

Meanwhile, a member of the PDP BoT, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the President suggested George’s name at the meeting where the decision was taken.

The source said, “The President suggested his name. You know this is politics; the President is losing followership in the South-West and other zones, so the best he thinks he can do is to look for those who can work with him.

“If he thinks an ex-convict is the best person to reorganise his party, so be it.

“Don’t forget that he said recently that another ex-convict, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha is his benefactor.

“Ironically, both George and Alamieseigha were convicted for corruption. He has the right to choose his friends.”

When contacted, the Secretary of the Board, Senator Wali Jibrin, declined to speak on the matter.

Asked whether the appointment would not send a wrong signal about the country’s fight against corruption, he said, “I don’t know anything about that.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/pdp-comes-under-fire-over-georges-bot-appointment/

PDP really want Lagos that bad?

Lmao!! Bode Tewonde George? PDP BOT?

He's an accomplished thief and thus,deserves a special place in PDP

Bode George was appointed into a panel to reorganize its Board of Trustees, not into the BOT as insinuated by the Op...

He had the right to belong to, and participate in the activities of a political party, moreover, the appointment was a PDP affair, and not the Federal Government.

Maxymilliano: Bode George was appointed into a panel to reorganize its Board of Trustees, not into the BOT as insinuated by the Op...

He had the right to belong to, and participate in the activities of a political party, moreover, the appointment was a PDP affair, and not the Federal Government.

r u listening to yourself? SMH

seriously? please who have any idea on how i can become a somali citizen?

This is what happens when unintelligent thugs rule and the academic intellectuals are sidelined.

Like anything is ever new in Nigeria...

Am not surprise.

Maxymilliano: Bode George was appointed into a panel to reorganize its Board of Trustees, not into the BOT as insinuated by the Op...

He had the right to belong to, and participate in the activities of a political party, moreover, the appointment was a PDP affair, and not the Federal Government.

i still dont see the diffference you're trying to point out

Is that Melaye talking? He should go and sit down.....he is an embarrassment to the opposition party, a pretender.

this is a welcome development,bravo to baba obj and his group.lets see how gej and his group will react.this is a war gej can and will never win

[size=18pt]Y B SUPRISED? BIRDS OF SAME FEATHER FL0CK 2GETHER[/size]

Only in Nigeria will a ex-convict for that matter be held such a post, gosh not even suprise anyway this same set of people keep circulating power.


are you suprise @ op, when he came out of prison & held a thanksgiving with dignitaries present there, what does that insinuate.

really love that name Bode Tewonde George.

The struggle to capture Lagos continues!

RICHIE BOI:

r u listening to yourself? SMH

Can you read what you wrote? shameless writer

romanlaw: Is that Melaye talking? He should go and sit down.....he is an embarrassment to the opposition party, a pretender.

He's not an ex-convict......

onatisi:
this is a welcome development,bravo to baba obj and his group.lets see how gej and his group will react.this is a war gej can and will never win

what are u saying?? u aint making much sense.true

Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.

surveyProf: The struggle to capture Lagos continues!

gej is a weakling,with gej in power pdp cant and wont win lagos.

jadakiss213: what are u saying?? u aint making much sense.true

it doesnt need to make sense to you,once it makes sense to pdp and its members .everyone else can go to hell. there is a reason for every action taken.

I said this ealier that GEJ wil soon appoint olabode george as Efcc chairman

Tewonde tu ti de... He he he...

Show me their followers and I will show you who their leaders are; be not surprised!

Am waiting for OBJ response to this......we'll see who will win at last between him and GEJ. I love naija politics.

iv4fb: seriously? please who have any idea on how i can become a somali citizen?

Join Boko haram

All i can say is ...FRESH AIR on point.

Maxymilliano: Bode George was appointed into a panel to reorganize its Board of Trustees, not into the BOT as insinuated by the Op...

He had the right to belong to, and participate in the activities of a political party, moreover, the appointment was a PDP affair, and not the Federal Government.

the question is who is PDP who is FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

U belong to the ABCDEF family, simply because you stole from your kindred you were convicted for 2 years and now back to the family.
Now your Dad and the nuclear family did not disown you so u still bear ur father's surname, for the fact that you were an ex-convict does it mean u cannot take part and reorganise in family meetings?

It's the PDP and it's their biz, this does not affect the ACN,CPC,ANPP merger rather i think they can use it against the PDP.

in other news... is Dino Melaye Anti Corruption campaign just aimed FG and PDP? it should cut across every public sector and level cos i think our Governors are having a swell time with everyone critising just the FG

the Oil subsidy scandal revealed there are alot of cabals and corrupt politicians in Govt (some are GEJ ally or someway stronger than him). the truth is GEJ can't fight corruption.

this is purely a pdp family affair .no cause for alarm

onatisi:
gej is a weakling,with gej in power pdp cant and wont win lagos.

Don't forget, he who pays the pipper, detects the turns, until INEC is made to stands on its own!