President Goodluck Jonathan this afternoon appealed for the understanding of Nigerians, particularly civil society organisations, saying Federal Government’s pardon of former Bayelsa State governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, was not only based on constitutional provisions, but followed precedent.

Jonathan, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, gave names of those who were pardoned by previous administrations to include former leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra, late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and former Leader of Opposition in the First Republic, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Anchoring the decision of the National Council of State (NCS) on Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan explained that it was premised on the need to facilitate the healing process, more so as the former governor has shown remorse.

Okupe, who spoke at a press conference, said although no one was querying the legality of the pardon, some people were concerned about “whether the decision is morally right or if it will not send wrong signals on government’s anti-corruption crusade.”
Part of the statement reads:
“These two considerations are my major objectives in addressing this conference and I once again wish to plead earnestly that our people should hear me out and allow us to reason together.
On the issue of morality, I want to state categorically here, that State or Presidential Pardon are not intended for nobility or saints. In general, a state pardon is for those who have committed crimes and breached the laws of the land and may or may not have been tried or convicted regardless of their social status.
“A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty; it is usually granted by the head of state (such as a monarch or president) or by acts of parliament or a religious authority.
“Today, pardons are granted in many countries when individuals have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise considered to be deserving.”
He cited examples from the United States, saying the issue of pardon was a universal one, and no one should read ulterior motives into it.

Hear Okupe: “American history is replete with similar instances of pardons for reasons that may not appear altogether altruistic but which suited the socio-political situations of the country.

“Bill Clinton issued a total of 456 pardons, of which one was his younger brother serving a one year jail term in connection with possession of cocaine. George Bush Snr, 176, Jimmy Carter 566, Lydon Johnson 1,157 and F D Roosevelt, 3,687!”
He continued: “This is what made President George H.W Bush in 1992 to say, ‘When earlier wars have ended, Presidents have always used their powers to pardon to put bitterness behind us, and look to the future.’

“This healing tradition reaches at least from President James Madison’s pardon of La Titte’s pirates after the war of 1812, to Andrew Johnson’s pardon of soldiers who fought for the confederacy, to Harry Truman’s and Jimmy Carter’s pardons of those who violated the selective service laws in World War II and Vietnam.”
Okupe said that the above tradition must have informed President Bill Clinton’s pardon of Fife Syminghton III, former Republican Governor of Arizona who was convicted of bank fraud.
“President Bill Clinton similarly ignited a firestorm of controversy when he pardoned Marc Rich, who was charged, in 1983, with cheating the United States Government of nearly $ 50 Million US Dollars and doing business with Iran during the hostage crisis. Rich was never tried as he fled to Switzerland to avoid prosecution,” he stated.
Quoting Lord Denning, who said “the purpose of punishment is not to destroy the offender but rather to reform him and deter others,” Okupe said since Alamieyeseigha has been tried, convicted, finished his sentence, forfeited properties to government and shown enough remorse by stabilising the economy of the Niger Delta areas, there was nothing wrong in granting him state pardon.

He expressed the hope that, with his pardon, the former governor will, like Awolowo and Ojukwu, continue to contribute immensely toNigeria’s social, political and economic growth.

•Photo: Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, whose state pardon is generating controversy.