Jonathan has a right to pardon Alamieyeseigha – Okupe

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has defended the pardon granted to a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted for stealing the state’s resources, by the National Council of State.
Okupe, who spoke on a live television programme, Sunrise, on Channels Television, said the outcry over the pardon of Alamieyeseigha was not necessary as he was granted the pardon after serving out the sentence for his offence and had become remorseful.
He said making a big deal of the ex-governor’s case out of the eight persons pardoned by the National Council of State appears to be a witch hunt.
He said his case should not be singled out for special mention because he is from the same state with Jonathan and from the South-South.
Okupe told his audience on the live television programme: “A man was deposed, he was hounded, tried and jailed.
“What is wrong with giving pardon to a remorseful sinner?
“How come granting pardon to him has become an aberration?
“Is it because he is from Bayelsa?
“Is it because he is from the South-South?
“Is it because he is connected to Mr. President?”
More so, Okupe said it was not Jonathan, who was deputy governor under Alamieyeseigha as governor, that granted the pardon.
He said it was the National Council of State.
He said: “The relationship between President Jonathan and Alamieyeseigah is not something that is hidden neither is it something that is immoral.
“It was a pardon that was granted by the highest institution in the country.
“It is not every decision that a parent takes that is palatable to the children.
“But, later, you find out that you have taken the right decision as a parent.
“The Council is empowered to grant the pardon.
“And why is all this noise about Alamieyeseigha and the pardon?
“Is it because it is him?
“Is it because he is a Niger Deltan?
“Is it because of his closeness to Jonathan?
“Even in our laws, though I am not a lawyer, there are certain offences that you commit and after 10 years, you receive presidential pardon.
“There is a Yoruba saying that says ‘you asked a thief to run, he runs. You asked him to drop what he has stolen, he did. What else do you want from him?'”
Okupe therefore charged Nigerians to respect the institution of the National Council of State.
The National Council of State pardoned Alamieyeseigha alongside seven others on Tuesday.
Others pardoned were a former Chief of General Staff, retired General Oladipo Diya; a former Chief of Staff Supreme, late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; Major Bello Magaji; ­Mohammed Lima Biu; Shettima Bulama; late Major General Abdulkareem Adisa; and Major Segun Fadipe.