Presidential Penkelemesi

To the average new generation political enthusiasts in Nigeria, they may not be familiar with the word "Penkelemisi" a world used by so many people, imagine some young Nigerians think the word is a brand name of some sorts.

 

Penkelemesi is a Yorubanization of the word PECULIAR MESS, a pre-independent famous Ibadan politician late Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu used the word to described the opposition in the Western Region House of Assembly at that time. Not understanding what he meant, the non-literate section of his audience translated the phrase into vernacular as "penkelemesi".

 

Presidential (State) pardon is an executive order vacating a conviction. It's not an abominable act of any sorts because the constitutions of many countries including Nigeria give the president the power to grant clemency. It can be in the form of any of the following;

-grant a full pardon,

-to commute a sentence and,

-or to rescind a fine.

 

On Tuesday, March 13, 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan granted ex-Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha and seven others state pardon on the advice of the council of state.

 

I do not have personal grouse with state pardon especially knowing fully well it is done in other parts of the world and because sometimes judgement can't be biased or a fellow who commit an offence can change for good after or during their states' punishments.

 

Having gone through the state pardon documents under the current president of the United States of America Barack Obama, I noticed that the fellows granted state pardons were all found guilt and convicted by the United States’ courts. Guess what, they all finished their terms without any option of a fine.

 

The first state pardon done under Obama's administration was on December 3, 2010 with 10 sentences ranging from 1972 to 1991.

 

The second state pardon was done on May 20, 2011, with eight sentences ranging from 1975 to 1985. The third was done in November 21, 2011 with five sentences.

 

The last till date was on March 1, 2013 with 10 sentences and one commutations of sentence which was given to Eugenia Marie Jennings who was sentenced in 2001 to 262 months (about 22 years) in prison, 8 years of supervised release and with $1,750 fine.

Eugenia sentence expired on December 21, 2011, leaving intact and in effect the eight-year term of supervised release with all its conditions and all other components of the sentence.

 

Since the news of the current State Pardon in Nigeria broke out, I keep asking myself what kind of a nation are we where the mightier intentionally massage the rotten ego of the ruling class and with no mercy in melted out as punishments to the poor and less privilege for stealing little for their survival.

 

If the council of state which comprises the President, Vice President, all state Governors, all living former presidents, Chief Justice of the Federation, the Senate President and speaker think that someone from the Niger Delta region deserve a state pardon, can we ask them if they have forgotten the role played by late Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni elder statesmen who were sentenced to death for fighting to protect the right of the Ogoni people.

 

I'm sure that DSP's saga is still very fresh in the memories of millions of Nigerians. Let me just refresh our memories especially for those of us who have forgotten who he was.

 

He was elected the Governor of Bayelsa State in May 1999 and re-elected in 2003; later impeached for corruption charges in December 2005. During his tenure as the number one citizen of the state, he accumulated known properties and bank accounts, exceeding £10m in value.

 

His portfolio of foreign assets included accounts with five banks in the UK and further accounts with banks in Cyprus, Denmark and the United States; four London properties acquired for a total of £4.8m; a Cape Town harbour penthouse acquired for almost £1m,  assets in the United States, and almost £1m in cash stored in one of his London properties.

 

He was later detained by the metropolitan police in the UK but later escaped by disguise, dressed like a woman with native attire, the rest is history.

 

Are we a leaner in this country? Why do we always chase the shadows instead of the substance? What message is this council of state passing out to young hard working Nigerians out there? Are the old men telling us that the fight against corruption is just a lip service that does not affect the affluent and the rich?

 

Are there no men of conscience amongst them who will see things in other peculiar ways in which peculiar people of Nigeria will appreciate?

 

OMG, I do not have problem with forgiveness because to err is human and to forgive is divine, but what I do have problem with is the signal which this action of the council of state will send to everyone watching this mad dance of the ruling class in Nigeria.

 

Now, I'm sure you will definitely know what made me call this penkelemesi because truly to me this is a peculiar mess in a peculiar banana republic called Nigeria.