NOBODY PARDONED ME –Diya

… Nobody pardoned me –Diya

From LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin, BIMBO OYESOLA, Lagos, FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa, ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi and AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja for the Sun News.

Controversy yesterday trailed the state pardon granted former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt. Gen, Oladipo Diya, the late Major-Gen Abdulkareem Adisa, Major Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lina Bin, Major Segun Fadile and former Managing Director, Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama as rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said President Goodluck Jonathan goofed by endorsing last Tuesday’s Council of State action.

The council also pardoned former Bayelsa State Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha. Falana said Gen. Diya and others implicated in the 1995 coup against the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, were pardoned by his successor, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar in 1999.

Falana sent in a copy of the document granting the state pardon, which was reproduced here. Reacting to Falana’s claim yesterday, Diya said he was not aware Gen. Abubakar granted him any pardon. But commenting on the pardon, Falana wrote in a text message sent to Daily Sun yesterday: “As I am out of Lagos, I have asked my secretary to send the statutory instrument to you.

The Presidency should stop playing on the collective intelligence of Nigerians, since there is no provision for double pardon under the law. “In view of the grave official error, the list of the convicts granted unconditional pardon should be reviewed to avoid any further embarrassment.” However, in a telephone interview from his United Kingdom base yesterday, Diya debunked the allegation that he was granted state pardon in 1999 for his role in the phantom coup against Abacha. Diya denied the alleged 1999 state pardon, saying if it was done in 1999, he ought to have been paid what he is supposed to be paid.

According to Diya, “if it was done in 1999, I have not been paid what I am supposed to be paid: pension, gratuity, et cetera. So, I only believe that since there was nothing mentioned about it, the gratuity and pension, it has not been done.” The Ogun state-born former CGS said if it was done in 1999, then there should have been a formal letter written to him. He said “because if it was done in 1999, there should have been a formal letter written to me.

But no letter, no payment, no gratuity. But like this one that has been announced now, I know there will be a letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, formally informing me about this decision and all that go with it, be done,” Diya added. Revealing his mood about the state pardon, Diya said “I feel good, I feel very, very happy,” saying “the only remark I would have is that I wouldn’t be happy if anybody is left out on the phantom coup list because I am not sure of the list yet. Some names are there, others are not there. Somebody is telling me that General Olarenwaju’s name is not there.”

Diya ended the conversation by further enquiring from our reporter whether names of Cols. Akiode and Edwin Jando were included. Meanwhile, Adisa’s widow, Hajia Ramat, has commended President Jonathan, the National Assembly and Nigerians in general for the post- humous state pardon granted her husband. Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday, Hajia Adisa said the gesture was a welcome development, adding that the entire family of the late General would remain grateful to Nigerians.

Hajia Adisa, who said she would have been happier if the late General was alive like other officers alleged to have participated in the 1995 coup, however, gave thanks to the Almighty God for making the state pardon possible. Executive Secretary of the National Summit Group (NSG), Mr. Tony Uranta, lauded the pardon for Alamieyeseigha, saying it was justifiable and in order.

Uranta told newsmen in Lagos that Alamieyeseigha deserved forgiveness by the National Council of State because of his role in ensuring peace and progress in Niger Delta. Uranta said that the pardon was in tandem with practices all over the world. “The United States of America during the tenure of Bill Clinton granted state pardon to his brother who was involved in drug trafficking.

That notwithstanding, Alamieyeseigha played great roles in bringing the Niger Delta insurgency to an end. He risked his life to ensure that there was peace in the Niger Delta so as not to affect the nation’s economy that depends so much on oil for revenue.

And he is still playing same roles to ensure that the peace in the region is sustained,” he said. President Jonathan, Uranta said, had the prerogative to reject or embrace the advice of the Council of State and since he approved of their recommendations showed it was the right thing to do.”

Also, the immediate past commissioner for information, who also served under Alamieyeseigha, Chief Nathan Egba, Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Political Matters, Chief Fred Agbedi and Bayelsa State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oson, said the gesture was timely.

Egba said in tabling the request for state pardon before the Council of State, Jonathan as a man of conscience, knows that Alamieyeseigha suffered political persecution. His words: “I expect that Nigerians should by now learn not to rush to judgment each time there is a presidential decision that appears controversial. In this particular case Mr President ought to be commended for his courage in granting state pardon to all those affected, particularly Gen. Diya and his colleagues as well as Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha.

As a man of conscience and high moral standing, Mr President knows that former governor sins were more political than criminal, in those hectic days of the infamous ‘political EFCC.”