It is a disgrace that President Goodluck Jonathan, who has never stopped the rhetoric about "fighting corruption" despite the evidence to the contrary, would erase any doubt about where he actually stands on the war against corruption by getting the Council of State to grant "pardon" to a confirmed kleptocrat and corruption-convict such as D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha. There is no rationale for such an action. It reeks of nepotism and total disregard for the millions of hard-working Nigerians who labour daily to live above the cess-pool of graft which the public sector and the business space have become especially since May, 2011. What amazes me is that the President really does not "give a damn" about how Nigerians and the international community view this decision.
This issue is not about whether it is "clemency" or "pardon"; it is also not about whether pardon has been granted to criminals in other climes based on unpopular or even nepotistic reasons. And, of course, it is not about the legitimacy or constitutionality of the action of the Council of State acting at the behest of President Goodluck Jonathan. This is simply about the IMMORALITY of the pardon when our nation is haemorrhaging because of corruption with impunity.
The Council of State should reverse itself at its next meeting and "unpardon" D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha so as to save our nation from further ridicule and show our children that we really do not celebrate thieves.
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