ACN, CNPP blast PDP for celebrating Bode George’s release

The Action Congress of Nigeria and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties on Sunday warned the Peoples Democratic Party not to send wrong signals to Nigerian youths that there were good rewards for corruption.

The ACN’s warning came on the heels of Saturday’s grand reception organised by the PDP for its former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George, on his release from a two-year jail term.


George was jailed for abuse of office, contract splitting and disobedience to lawful order.


In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said the PDP‘s action was a wrong signal to Nigerian youths. The ACN said it was akin to telling Nigerian youths that public officers could steal or mismanage public funds and be treated like heros.


“There is nothing wrong in rehabilitating a prisoner. But turning an occasion that calls for penitence and soberness to a carnival of sorts is a disservice to Nigeria, and a clear signal that the wobbly anti-corruption war of the Goodluck Jonathan administration is finally dead. It also ridicules Nigeria in the eyes of the world,” it said.


The ACN said George was jailed for stealing money meant for port management and development, not for his political beliefs.


“Let us remind Nigerians that partly because of Bode George‘s grand larceny, it now takes five times the number of time it should take to clear a container; while the Apapa port can hardly handle some ocean-growing vessels bringing in imported fuel, thus heightening the possibility of fuel scarcity.


“This is the man for whom a party (PDP) seeking the votes of Nigerians in April‘s general elections pulled all the stops to give a hero‘s welcome from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. This is the man whom serving ministers of a government that is supposed to be fighting corruption besieged Lagos to welcome.


“This is the man for whom the President‘s campaign coordinator for the South-West, Governor Gbenga Daniel - apparently standing in for his boss – turned up in Lagos with fanfare to receive. Nowhere in the world is this kind of action possible, except in Nigeria. And no party is capable of this theatre of the absurd except the PDP,” the party said.


In a separate statement, the CNPP expressed surprise at the celebration of George’s release from jail. In the statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the CNPP said it was outraged over “the obscene celebration of George, an ex-convict in Lagos on Saturday, by eminent citizens among whom were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State), ex-governors and two serving ministers.”


The CNPP said it was at a loss on where to locate the Jonathan administration’s anti-graft crusade when the President delegated the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, to represent him at the ‘obscene’ celebration.


CNPP said, ”President Jonathan from all intents and purposes by this act has failed woefully to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a constitution which frowns against corruption, failed to show leadership and questioned the sincerity of his commitment to war against corruption.


“Accordingly, we are appalled that the president of our dear country can openly, without prejudice to his oath of office, celebrate a man who was convicted on a 163-count criminal charge bearing on abuse of public trust, contract splitting and financial misappropriation to the tune of N100bn. What lessons or legacies are we bequeathing to future generations, when we are celebrating a man from prison not for political charges but criminal charges?”

Posted: at 28-02-2011 11:51 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Very disappointed. This is not the new Nigeria we want
This guy is a blatant thief and should be treated as such
for the rest of his life. Imagine one person stealing 85 billion
naira, the counrty's money. How many hospitals, schools
roads etc would you not build with that kind of money.
To add salt to injury, he was celebrated after serving only
15 months in prison. He has not finished his jail term and who are
the people staging the celebration? If frusters are not taught
a lesson, corruption will never stop in Nigeria.
Those who steal, do remember that this money belong to all
Nigerians and you are depriving them of God's given resources
You all will answer to God.

Posted: at 1-03-2011 01:11 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming