By Donu Kogbara
LAST week, I said I thought that people who were attacking President Goodluck Jonathan for pardoning Alamieyeseigha, his former boss, were being too harsh.

One of the points I made to support my case was that Alamieyeseigha was pretty popular on his home turf because he had been generous to many Bayelsans when he was their Governor. Another point I made was that Bill Clinton had also issued pardons to financial criminals when he was President of the US.

As I suspected, my stance attracted a lot of criticisms from Vanguard readers.

A Lagos lawyer who asked me not to name him, fired the first shot:

I do not agree with your take on the “Alams” saga. Methinks there are better ways to return favours without shooting yourself in the foot. The questionable pardon was badly timed and it came frontally against the mood of the moment globally. GEJ simply gave himself away as the head that is cut off from the current of the main. It’s either he does not respect history or he does not care about its verdict. The gentleman is gradually writing himself on the wrong page of posterity despite the benevolent run of good luck he has enjoyed.

I fail to see what probative value the gaffes that have been committed by ex-leaders of the US share with what GEJ is doing. The comparison does not hold water. Poor judgement remains poor judgement, regardless of location.

Occasionally, I can find the time to personally respond to a reader who has contacted me. Here is what I told Mr. Lagos lawyer when I emailed him back:

“I agree that the timing of the pardon was bad and take your point about poor judgement being poor judgement, whether it takes place in Nigeria or America…

“But I stand by what I said in my column, being that if I had the legal right to pardon a mentor who had lifted me up and had not committed murder or rape, I would do so unapologetically. Gratitude is, after all, a virtue! And it’s not as if Dr. Goodluck Jonathan provided himself with this constitutional entitlement…

“I guess the fundamental question at stake is this: Should Presidents be allowed, in the first place, to grant pardons to ANYONE who has broken the law? If the answer is NO, fine, let’s scrap the convention, so nobody can pardon anybody in future. If the answer is YES, surely people whose sins revolved around fraud rather than violence are the most suitable candidates for official forgiveness? I also wonder how many Nigerians would, if given the chance to become Governors, totally avoid the temptation to embezzle public funds.”

Other Vanguard readers had this to say:

+2348128805237 Anonymous

Haba Donu! Pardoning a governor who jumped bail and ran back to Nigeria in a woman’s dress to avoid detection? It’s nothing but shameful.

+2348026201736 Anonymous

l vehemently disagree with you and equivocally state that it is morally wrong for Jonathan to grant Alams, who was jailed for corruption, a state pardon, no matter his being nice and generous in the past

+2348028320034 Anonymous

Madam l am disapointed that you will condone such an act in your article about Alams. We shouldn’t be sentimental about such things. Shame

+2347037421476 Rodsimeon Idaewor

Haba Donu! You have also  joined the people justifying the unjustifiable pardon of Alams. If our consistent inconsistent and non- performing President Jonathan thinks that he has done justice in this grave issue, all well and good; but l fear for Alams because he will face the justice of the Almighty.

This one, from one Canon Ogar (+2348032640283) was scathingly sarcastic to the point of witty and I couldn’t help hooting with laughter when I read it!

Ma, we dig your logic. Using your logic, lbori shall be canonised and made a saint by Pope Francis I; and you will be appointed as the head of the committee that will actualise this plan. We will also elevate you to the professorial chair of corrupt but generous politicians and make you a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as well as giving you the Nobel Prize for this your ground-breaking thesis. Bravo

Only two readers agreed with me.

+23470170001040 Kalio

Dear Sister, compliments. l just follow you good or bad every Friday. But for the first time l want to thank you for your piece on Alams.

The last word goes to Peter

Udosen (fazclean_ventures@yahoo.com):

I imagine that 95 percent of those lampooning the President would do the same thing if they were to find themselves in his place. Nigeria is a place of contradictions. The same people castigating Jonathan now would be the first to blame him for not helping his brother when he had the power to do so. Forgiveness is not a weakness. It is about offering the person a second chance in life.

As I said earlier, gratitude is a virtue and I want to warmly thank these two marvellous gentlemen for appreciating my position on this burning issue!