Alams Pardon, A Symbol of Jonathan's Corrupt Mentality

The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described the state pardon granted ex-governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, by President Goodluck Jonathan, as an act of impunity and a symbol of the corrupt mentality of his administration.

On the statement by Reuben Abati, who described those that criticised Jonathan over the matter as suffering from “sophisticated ignorance”, Soyinka said Abati's type are many in the corridors of power.

Soyinka said he did not mind being called an ignorant man by Abati for supporting the truth.

“On the state pardon granted the former governor, I want to join the bandwagon of the ignorant persons. I am happy to be counted among them. For me, this kind of impunity is not unconnected to the controversy, which has been surrounding the N4bn allocation being sought by the First Lady Mission. It is part of the same corrupt mentality,” he said.

The renowned writer added that it was also disappointing that some ministers had given contradictory and controversial interpretations to the object of the pardon.

Soyinka insisting it it very wrong for Jonathan to lump Alamieyeseigha’s case with those of the other people granted pardon alongside him.

Reacting to the development after inaugurating the web-portal of the NBA in Abuja, NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, also said the presidential pardon had sent a bad signal in the war on corruption.

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