Alamieyeseigha: Soyinka slams Jonathan

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has slammed President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over the state pardon granted a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was jailed for stealing his state’s resources.
Soyinka, who spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, also criticized the position of presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, that those against the pardon granted Alamieyeseigha were speaking out of “sophisticated ignorance.”
Soyinka said: “On the state pardon granted the former governor, I want to join the bandwagon of the ignorant persons.
“I am happy to be counted among them.
“For me, this kind of impunity is not unconnected to the controversy, which has been surrounding the N4 billion allocation being sought by the First Lady Mission.
“It is part of the same corrupt mentality.
“What is going on right now gives the picture of a government that is floundering and justifying the unjustifiable.
“It amounts to encouragement of corruption.
“The United States Government wants the felon.
“We have a case of an officer of the law, a governor, who went to another country and broke the law of the nation.
“He jumped bail.
“I believe that such a person does not deserve a state pardon.
“So, I have joined the league of the ignorant persons condemning the act.
“I criticize and deplore President Jonathan for granting pardon to the former governor.”