ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Cardinal Onaiyekan condemns pardon for Alamieyeseigha, Bulama

John Cardinal Onaiyekan

Cardinal Onaiyekan condemns pardon for Alamieyeseigha, Bulama

byOgala Emmanuel
April 2, 2013
3 min read

Cardinal  Onaiyekan argues that the infamous pardon has serious political and social fall-out that government cannot afford to ignore.

The infamous presidential pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Depreiye Alamieyeseigha, a political patron of President Goodluck Jonathan may never go down well with most Nigerians as more high profile figures have joined in condemning the pardon.

The latest condemnation was issued by a prominent leader of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the Cardinal John Oniayekan, in his Easter message.

The Cardinal , troubled by the pardon – like many Nigerians  – dedicated his Easter message to condemning the pardon and commenting on a raging argument over whether amnesty should be granted to members of the Boko Haram terrorist sect.

Nigeria’s President Jonathan drew local and international anger after he granted state pardon to his former boss, Mr. Alamieyeseigha. The former governor, wanted in the United Kingdom for money laundering and convicted in Nigeria for embezzling state funds while he was Governor, was pardoned alongside another convict and former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.

Mr. Bulama, like Mr. Alamieyeisegha, was investigated and later prosecuted for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for crimes committed as head of the Bank of the North.

While many Nigerians have described it as the worst setback to the fight against corruption in Nigeria, the controversial pardon granted Messrs Alamieyeseigha and Bulama sparked diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States, with the Americans threatening to punish Nigeria over Mr. Jonathan’s action.

The president also drew public anger for the pardon of a former army major, Bello Magaji, a homosexual rapist who the Supreme Court of Nigeria jailed for five years for serially sodomising four teenage boys.

Moral issue

RelatedNews

UPDATED: COVID-19 variant, causing anxiety in UK, found in Nigeria – Official

AUDIO: 13 corps members tested positive for COVID-19 at NYSC camp – official

U.S. mission launches monitors to track pollution in Lagos, Abuja

PROFILE: Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Governor, Adamawa State, Nigeria [2019 — ]

The Cardinal said both the pardon and the argument for an amnesty for Boko Haram are “cases where moral issues are at stake, where people are condemned or liable to be condemned for breaking the law and going against moral norms.”

He argued that Messrs. Alamieyeisegha and Bulama, and others ‘unjustly’ pardoned, ought to have shown some form of public repentance “which should be clear to everyone.”

“Furthermore, a sincere effort must be made to pay back as much as possible of what has been stolen. That money belongs to the Nigerian people and it must be given back to them (as a precondition for the pardon), “he added.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

The cleric advised the government not to forget that the issue of massive corruption in high places is of major concern to Nigerians who are fast losing confidence in the sincerity of government to turn the tide.

“Pardon for high profile corruption cases will certainly reduce further whatever is left of the confidence of the people. This has serious political and social fall-out that government cannot afford to ignore,” he said. “We must tell the truth that anger is mounting in the land, especially among the youth whose patience is running out. The clock of social tension is dangerously ticking towards explosion. The nation is in danger. What is needed are clear and visible gestures of reassurance that a real change and genuine transformation for the better has started.”

Boko Haram amnesty condition

The Cardinal argued that that the fundamental requirement for forgiveness – amnesty – are admittance of wrongdoing and willingness to amend damages by the wrong actions.

“Before the Boko Haram can be seriously considered for amnesty, they must meet the two conditions for forgiveness, namely repentance and amendment,” he said. “Before they are eligible for any amnesty, they must at least admit that they were wrong to be killing innocent people, whatever may have been their grievances. If this is not done, they could well continue to feel that they did the right thing and perhaps, it is the rest of us who ought to beg them for pardon.”

He said Boko Haram may claim to have grievances that have fuelled the war which have killed at least 1,500 Nigerians.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The fact is that they have killed innocent people. How does the state forgive murderers? How can the government grant amnesty to people who have killed innocent citizens, some in their places of worship?” he asked.

The Cardinal said the issue of poverty and unemployment, which is cited as an excuse for the Boko Haram insurgency, and the growing danger of community polarization gradually tearing the nation apart, needs to be addressed as key ingredients of an amnesty for the deadly sect.

“And this boils down to the critical issue of good governance at all levels: Federal, State and Local government,” he said.

The full text of Mr. Onaiyekan’s reflections can be obtained [Click here]

This story has been corrected to reflect the actual title of Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (5)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

2013 Easter Message, By +John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja

Next Post

900 flood victims share N11.3mn government assistance in Katsina council

Ogala Emmanuel

Ogala Emmanuel

Emmanuel Ogala is an investigative reporter and heads the Digital Strategy unit of PREMIUM TIMES. Emmanuel, an experienced web developer. Before joining PREMIUM TIMES, Emmanuel worked for 234NEXT. His stories have won awards in the 2014 CNN-Multichoice African Journalist of the Year award and the 2013 Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism awards.

More News

A fisher presents his meagre catch from a polluted creek in Ogoniland, Nigeria. [Photo: The Conversation]

PIB: Host Communities demand 10% equity shareholding

January 26, 2021
Yahaya Ahmed showing off his new house

Man builds house with 14,800 plastic bottles in Kaduna

January 26, 2021
A section of Sunday Igboho's house after the fire incident

Sunday Igboho’s house gutted by fire

January 26, 2021
Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor [Photo: PUNCH]

Hours after shootings, Uzodinma declares curfew in 10 LGAs in Imo

January 26, 2021
Ondo State Governor and Chairman, SouthWest Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), flanked by Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde (right); Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (second right); Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura (left); Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (second left) and others, addressing journalists at the Government House in Marina, during a solidarity visit to Lagos Governor over destruction of public assets and private properties by hoodlums, Sunday, October 25, 2020.

Farmers-Herders Conflict: How South-west governors, Miyetti Allah agreed to tackle insecurity

January 26, 2021
Nancy Pelosi. [PHOTO CREDIT: Washington Post]

Article of impeachment against Trump delivered to U.S. Senate

January 26, 2021
Next Post
Flood used to illustrate the story

900 flood victims share N11.3mn government assistance in Katsina council

How Kenyan Women Farmers Promote Peace, By David Njagi

Agriculture Ministry to register 80,000 Nigerian farmers under GES

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,606,168 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.