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YEMI ADEGBITETuesday, March 19, 2013
yemiadegbite@yahoo.ca
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

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FLAWED STATE PARDON

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ur leaders in their characteristic arrogance and nonchalance find it very difficult to admit when they are wrong and make amends, but rather they complicate issues with flagrant disrespect and wanton caustic statements either by them or through their attach dogs. Goodluck Jonathan and his multitude of aides are classical examples of incorrigible men and women that indulge in chasing the shadow only to lose the substance. Sometimes I wonder what our leaders are made up of! I can't stop to think whether they are different spices from another planet, especially at the federal level, could it be that something beclouds their judgement once they assume that office, or could it be the pimps, mercenary and adherents they surround themselves with? I think this will be an interesting research topic. They seem to reason normally and walk straight, they make reasonable inferences and connections, but once they are on the driver's seat, everything changes all of a sudden!

Rueben Abati of blessed old memories in those days at The Guardian has totally lost his "mojo" and with it his link with reality. Is like Abati has undergone extreme make over, he sat shamelessly lecturing Nigerians on Jurisprudence of State Pardon and failed totally in his flawed logic to delve into the "Politics of State Pardon" and in his skewed morality declared that Nigerians are suffering from "Sophisticated Ignorance".

Nigeria has so many challenges and so many obstacles to overcome ranging from staggering youth unemployment to daunting economic environment, the least any serious and business minded leaders want to engage in is a lousy and controversial state pardon granted to unrepentant and hardened usurpers of people' wealth.

How many governments will it take to develop people oriented and rational leaders that will take the country to the next level? All we have at the federal level are fumblers, what they do best is to fumble from problem to partial solution and back to even bigger problems. Good leader learn how to reflect on issues and consider the short, medium and long term effects of policies before embarking on them. It should not be too difficult for a rational leader to accept when he/she is wrong and quickly fix the problem.

It is very clear that the purported state pardon granted to Alamieyeseigha is immersed in conflict of interest for Goodluck, is ill-timed, indefensible and unnecessary at this time in history, to add insult to injury attack dogs were let loose from the presidency to insult and shout Nigerians down. Rather than indulging in flimsy and frivolous activities that will only heat up the polity, it will serve the president's best interest to engage in self-critique and reflection and seriously consider things that will uplift Nigerians spirits, policies that will bring people out of the dungeon of poverty and squalor that they have been committed into due to bad policies over the years. Nigerians expect you to improve their living standard and conditions, resuscitate the epileptic power supply, look into the issue of youth unemployment, create enabling environment for foreign investors, fight corruption tooth and nail rather than embellishing it with your unguided and reckless use of the state pardon mechanism. Rehabilitate roads and communications systems, properly fund the hospitals, educational institutions and other research institutes. These are things Nigerians need most, and these are what people will remember you for when you were long gone, not your unwarranted and lousy use of state pardon clause in the constitution. Is like the biblical story of Barabbas and Jesus. We have many "Jesus'" still languishing in jail, and you opt to realising all the "Barabbas" of this world. Without mincing words, I join millions of Nigerians to tell you Mr. President that you have goofed, the only honourable thing is to own it and hone on your fence mending skills and work hard to make Nigeria better.

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