former Bayelsa State Governor Dieprieye Alameiyeiseigha
There
was indication on Sunday that United States might slam visa
restrictions on some Nigerian government officials in protest against
the state pardon granted a former Bayelsa State Governor Dieprieye
Alameiyeiseigha, and an ex-Managing Director of the defunct Bank of the
North, Mr. Shettima Bulama.
A diplomatic source, who made this known
to The PUNCH in Abuja, said the US was miffed by the Federal
Government’s decision to summon its Deputy Head of Mission for flaying
the reprieve granted the two men.
He said, “There are a lot of options open
to Washington. For one, if this matter is not resolved, they can issue
visa restrictions on government officials and then follow it up with
other sanctions recognised within international law.”
The source said that Nigeria currently stands at a disadvantage should the visa restrictions be imposed.
He said, “Your country stands at a
disadvantage because international opinion weighs heavily against it
on this one(state pardon).
“Financial crime, especially money
laundering, is closely linked to drug trade and drug trade is linked to
terrorism; the whole world is affected by it.
“So, if any government is seen to be condoning financial crimes in any form, it stands the risk of international isolation.”
When contacted, a Public Affairs
Specialist at the US Embassy in Abuja, SaniMohammed, said, “ I am not
aware of anything like that (visa restrictions).”
A Presidency source, who pleaded
anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media on the
issue, revealed that proper consultations were not held before the
decision to pardon Alamieyeseigha and Shettima was taken.
The source said, “It is unfortunate that proper consultations were not held before the decision was taken.
“Normally, when decisions like this
which have the potential of attracting international interest are to be
taken, a small team made up of lawyers from the Foreign Ministry and
civil society is set up.
“The team carries out a research,
considers the likely repercussions and prepares a well coordinated
response should situations like what we are witnessing today arise but
this was not done.
“You cannot blame the US and other
western countries who are likely to side with it(US) because, they
provide funding for training and other logistics to assist Nigeria deal
with corruption.
“To make matters worse, Alamieyeseigha
has a money laundering case in a court in the United Kingdom; there is
also this issue of him jumping bail. It’s really complicated.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party
and the Congress for Progressive Change have expressed diverse opinions
on the controversial pardon granted Alamieyeseigha and four other
Nigerians.
While the PDP, through its National
Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, insisted that the beneficiaries
deserved the amnesty based on their conduct over the years, the CPC
argued that the action was a “national embarrassment.”
The PDP therefore enjoined Nigerians to
stop harassing President Goodluck Jonathan for granting the pardon
because it was done in good faith.
The party, in a statement on Sunday
by Tukur, berated the opposition parties for inciting Nigerians
against Jonathan, arguing that the idea of granting pardon falls within
the powers of the President as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
Tukur said, “I cannot understand why our people are politicising the issue of amnesty so granted by Mr. President.
“The question is; do you grant pardon to
the innocent? No! Amnesty is granted to those people he felt did some
wrong and after some time, their behaviour and attitude showed that the
wrong they did was just a slip.
“We all call on our God to grant us mercy on the wrongs we do to him minute by minute.
“The PDP did not see President Jonathan
committing any breach of our laws by granting the pardon. He allowed the
constitution to guide his steps.
“Moreover, he consulted widely before
taking the step and don’t forget that the government announced the
amnesty after a council meeting.
“We should stop harassing him because
those he had granted pardon are responsible citizens of Nigeria who, in
spite of the allegations against them ,have continued to assist the
Federal Government, the PDP and their respective states to overcome
certain challenges.”
But the CPC said the anger of
Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora was justified because
Alamieyeseigha and Shettima were “convicted for obscene corruptive
tendencies and nauseous rapacity.”
PUNCH
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