News

Nigerians’ Views Don’t Matter On Pardoned Nyame, Dariye – Presidency

Published

4 years ago

April 23, 2022

Editor

The Presidency has said that it really does not matter what the people’s views are concerning President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to grant state pardon to some Nigerians convicted for corruption.

Femi Adesina, the Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said there are some Nigerians who will criticise anything the government does, however positive or negative.

The President’s Spokesman, who appeared on Channels Television on Friday, said people will always have rights to their views but it does not mean that those views are “casting concrete” or “the holy grave”.

Former Governors of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, and Taraba, Jolly Nyame, were recently given a clean bill years after conviction for graft.

Recall that during a Council of State meeting attended by former Heads of State, former Chief Justices of the federation, Governors, sitting President and Vice President last week, the former governors convicted for corruption and imprisoned, were granted state pardon by the Council of State on the approval of Buhari and the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) report.

“What were the reasons for their pardon? You know there is a Prerogative of Mercy Committee which will seat and look at all the presentations made to it on people who have applied to be pardoned under the prerogative of mercy,” Adesina said.

“And that Committee would make a recommendation to the Council of State and that debated back and forth and the reason for pardoning those two former governors was one age and severe ill health .

“What does anybody gain should eventually they die in prison? And two of them are said to be in a very very bad shape. I have not seen how that pardon vitiate the war against corruption in any way because the war continues.

“I don’t see how it depreciate it. It depends on how you see it. Do you know that there are some Nigerians who will criticise anything however positive or negative,” he said.

Asked if the current administration does not care about the views of the people, Adesina went on, “People will always have rights to their views but it doesn’t mean that those views are casting concrete. It doesn’t mean that those views are holy graves…”

On whether the government is actually working for the people, he said, “That is why the government has a mandate.

“When you vote in a government it has the prerogative to exercise the mandate you have given it. The reason for the pardon was age and health.

“The government gains nothing if those former governors die in prison. Nobody abhors corruption more than the President so for him to have concord to that recommendation of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee is a high morality.”

Related Topics:Jolly Nyame Joshua Dariye

Up Next

Obasanjo Expresses Shock Over Alaafin’s Death

Don't Miss

Palace Confirms Alaafin Of Oyo’s Death

Comments

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

40 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.