“Withdraw State Pardon In National Interest” – NLC Warns FG

omarThe Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has added its voice to those of other critics of government’s decision to grant state pardon to former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Managing Director of the Bank of the North, Mr Shetima Bulama. The NLC has asked President Jonathan to withdraw the state pardon to the two beneficiaries.

The NLC said in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, that it was totally unacceptable that those who committed economic crimes in such magnitude that affected public interest were granted state pardon.

The statement, titled: “Withdraw State Pardon In National Interest,” says “We are alarmed by the decision of the National Council of State to pardon Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who was impeached as governor of Bayelsa State and eventually convicted by a properly constituted court for stealing public funds; and Mr Shetima Bulama, a former managing director of Bank of the North, who was also convicted for misappropriating the bank’s funds.

The NLC statement says: “While we appreciate that the Council of State does have a constitutional responsibility to pardon citizens who have obviously been convicted or punished in the past for offences, it is totally unacceptable that those who committed economic crimes in such magnitude that affected public interest be granted state pardon… We still wonder what message the National Council of State is sending to Nigerians if at the height of unprecedented corruption in the country those who have been prosecuted and jailed for stealing public money are granted state pardon.

“The congress finds it incongruous the state pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha and Mr Bulama… While like other citizens they may be entitled to state pardon, congress believes that the crimes committed are too weighty for state pardon… It is our view that state pardon remains an act of mercy or reprieve dispassionately exercised or granted by the highest authority in the land for and on behalf of the government and people, and it should be a last act of mercy sparingly exercised for the good of the nation. State pardon is recognised across the world not for its own sake but for its potential and capacity for redressing judicial guilt, rewarding penitence, or for initiating reconciliation, and in some instances, for ensuring restoration, but never losing sight of national interest.”

9 COMMENTS

  1. NLC is only a clog in the wheel of progress, being driven around only by selfish politicians and opposition. There’s nothing wrong in granting pardon to those who have erred. Even God pardons us, no matter the level of our crime. There’s no perfect person, even the so-called NLC is corrupt, give them the opportunity, and they will do worst things.

    • Prince,u must be crazy and out of ur normal sense,how someone who fool a nation should b pardon easylly like that,when millions of people still surffering under porverty,if i am the justice,it should be death by hanging

    • @Princewill Ejikeme: it is obvious your senses need an overall overhauling!!!
      Go see ur doctor!

      Imagine that!
      “The congress finds it incongruous the state pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha and Mr Bulama… While like other citizens they may be entitled to state pardon, congress believes that the crimes committed are too weighty for state pardon… It is our view that state pardon remains an act of mercy or reprieve dispassionately exercised or granted by the highest authority in the land for and on behalf of the government and people, and it should be a last act of mercy sparingly exercised for the good of the nation. State pardon is recognised across the world not for its own sake but for its potential and capacity for redressing judicial guilt, rewarding penitence, or for initiating reconciliation, and in some instances, for ensuring restoration, but never losing sight of national interest.”

  2. Agreed that the President and the Council of State have the constitutional powers to grant Presidential pardon; but the point is: to who, and what is the effect of such action on the nation? In whose interest? Must they sacrifice national interest on the alter of political patronage?
    Public officials steal billions of naira with impunity. Only in rare cases are a few billions ever recovered; and the thieves are handed very mild sentences of only few years of luxurious incarceration, which sometimes draw public condemnation. As if that is not enough, soon after, they get pardon (PARDON!!!), to be integrated back into the national politics…to continue the senseless, heartless looting.
    Granted that it is the President’s prerogative to ‘do as he wishes’, must he do it only in the interest of self or a few individuals with vested interests – partners in crime. What happens to the rest of the populace who rode him up there in the first place and gave him that mandate to wield such powers? (Should they go to hell?). What happens to the much talked-about “war against corruption and graft”? What happens to our image in the eyes of the world? What happens to the expected legacies meant to be left for posterity? Do they not matter any more?
    I have been a fan of GEJ even from the campaign days but I dare to opine that this undeserved political patronage will go down in history as one of the most unreasonable, illogical, senseless and anti-people of all his decisions. I still pray God to grant him discernment, strength of character and mind to choose to do only that which he knows is right……NO MATTER WHOSE OX IS GORRED. Peace.

  3. @Aloys, @Fola, @Morflex and the hypocrite that calls him/herself TRUTH. Your comments are just too puerile to me. You boys needs to grow up, not just physically, but upstairs, ok. The president has the constitutional power to grant pardon to whoever he wills. NLC should focus more on fighting for the improvement of quality of life of its members, and stop this undue interference and meddlesomeness.