By Dapo Akinrefon
REACTIONS have continued to trail the sentence of  former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George.

George and five other members of his board were sentenced to 28 years  jail without an option of fine by an Ikeja High Court on Monday.

The Lagos State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Setonji Koshoedo, described the ruling as “sad and shocking.”

Koshoedo, in a statement said: “It is a blow not only to  Lagos PDP but to  the South-West and the nation as a whole. He deserves honour for his contribution to Nigeria. Lagos PDP will suspend all activities till further notice.

“Morale of the members,” he said, “has been dampened. A lot of work will have to be done to rejuvenate the party. We will not allow this to affect our focus. Our goal to succeed come 2011 is unshakeable,” he added.

However, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has lauded Justice Olubunmi Oyewole for what it described as a “diligent judgment.”

According to its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, “It is on the matter of ‘kid gloves’ that many Nigerians have expressed disappointment with the judgment. They are of the view that 30 months in jail is too light for the kind of crimes Bode George and colleagues committed.”