PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan did not disappoint the now ever cynical citizens of his country, Nigeria as he, with approval of the Council of State, a secretive caucus of past government leaders, majority of whom were subversive military top brass, state governors, lawmakers and ranked judges who randomly exercised prerogative of mercy against popular outcry, on Tuesday granted state pardon to one of Nigeria’s notorious public funds looters and plunderer, his one-time principa, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Alamieyeseigha, former governor of the president’s home state of Bayelsa, south-south Nigeria, oil rich but grossly underdeveloped, brazenly stole state funds some of which went into the purchase of prime properties in Nigeria, Europe and the United States of America.
Facing possible jail term in the United Kingdom after prosecution by the London Metropolitan Police, Alamieyeseigha escaped back home and was slapped with a ludicrous two-year sentence for all the billions stolen.
Alamiyeseigha has always had an informal pardon that enabled him to become one of the most consistent patrons of Aso Rock presidential villa, State House, in Abuja as a result of which he enjoyed influence as a principal strategist for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Often underrated as inexperienced and different from the long list of Nigeria’s corrupt leaders, Jonathan in association with his wife continue to make means and waste of the little progress the country has made in the battle against corruption.
Mr. Jonathan’s wife is the beneficiary of a N4 billion phantom building dedicated for so-called peace initiatives for African first ladies whose husbands are inglorious profligates.
Jonathan started the process of rehabilitation of Alamieyeseigha by first publicly describing him as a role model, a strange recommendation for the country’s youths and aspiring politicians. Insensitively that abysmal descent was accentuated today with the controversial pardon that now means Nigeria is one of the few places where it pays to steal in the hope of being celebrated.
With the latest move by the president, the coast may have been cleared for the final ravaging of the country’s wealth. Critics have learned to be numbed by the braggadocio of the south-south that Nigeria’s wealth is their oil money.
Tuesday’s Council of State meeting was attended by former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Ernest Shonekan and Shehu Shagari. Also in attendance was the Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; governors; ministers; and senior government officials
The meeting was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.