When the Federal Government announced a state pardon for former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, this was greeted by wild condemnation, both within and outside the country.
However, speaking for the first time since then, Alamieyeseigha has stated that those who are criticising the action are ignorant of the internal workings of government.
According to him, the administration of the late President Umar Yar’Adua negotiated with him and his pardon was part of the agreement reached with the Federal Government.
He said that President Jonathan, who was in the team that negotiated with him, in his capacity as the Vice President then, merely executed what had been agreed. He said if Yar’Adua were to be alive, he would have granted him pardon.
On why he could have been granted pardon, the former governor made reference to his role at ensuring peace in the country and wondered if Nigerians would have felt better if there was no means of selling the country’s oil to earn revenue. He disclosed that he had to go to the high sea, on several occasions, on behalf of the government, to ensure the release of expatriates captured by militants. He also revealed how he had slept in different camps of the militants in the creeks to negotiate peace on behalf of government.
Alamieyeseigha spoke on the emergency rule declared in three northern states by President Jonathan and the meeting of leaders of the three geo-political zones in the South.
Saturday Sun...
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