Amensty For Two Former Govs: Presidency Accuses Gov Wike Of Playing ‘Bole Kaja Politics’

By Ayodele Oni

Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu has slammed Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike, telling Wike he has no moral justification to criticise decisions of the National Council of States, of which he is a member.

Governor Wike had condemned the decision of the Council chaired by  President Mohamadu Buhari, to grant amnesty to some prisoners including two former Governors.

Governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba States respectively were jailed for graft related offences while serving as helsmen.

Garba Shehu said: “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 did not attend.

“The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, who 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.

“If the Governor 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.”

A few other people have also criticised the pardon granted the two Governors saying it has made nonsense of the anti-corruption war. But the Governor of Benue State, an incessant critic of President Buhari, praised him for granting the two former Governors pardon.

During the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, he had also granted the former Governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieseigha a similar Presidential pardon.