April 17, (THEWILL) – The Presidency has responded to the statement by Governor Nyesom Wike for criticising the state pardon granted to Joshua Dariye, former governor of Plateau and Jolly Nyame, former governor of Taraba.
THEWILL had reported On Thursday, that the Council of State pardoned 159 inmates, including the two former governors.
Nyame was sentenced to a 12-year jail term for diverting N1.64 billion during his tenure as governor of Taraba, while Dariye was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for N1.126 billion fraud.
Reacting to the state clemency, Wike said the pardon granted to the two former governors was a “disservice” to the judiciary.
The Rivers governor claimed that the two former governors were granted pardons so that they can help the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections.
According to Wike, Buhari ridiculed the judiciary and the anti-corruption crusade of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), by pardoning the ex-governors.
Responding to Wike, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a post on his verified Twitter page, said Wike’s criticism lacked moral justification since he did not attend the Council of State meeting despite being invited.
Shehu added that Rivers deputy governor, Ipalibo Banigo, who attended the meeting virtually, switched off her camera and it was difficult to determine if she monitored the meeting or walked away.
He wrote: “I do not see the moral justification for Governor Wike’s criticism of the decision of the government to pardon Governors Dariye and Nyame at a meeting to which he was duly invited, but didn’t attend.
“The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, who had joined the Council of State meeting virtually switched off her camera, so it was difficult to determine whether she sat behind the dark screen or just walked away after first joining.”
Shehu said, issuing a press statement about the Governors’ pardon after Wike refused to attend a meeting on the decision is “bolekaja politics.”
“If the Governor (Wike) felt so strongly about the pardons, the right thing was for him or his representative to sit through the meeting and assert views.
“This he did not do. A press release after the meeting is bolekaja politics”, he added.
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