By Bashir Adefaka

A former Head of State of Nigeria has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to see to the completion of the pardon process he initiated early this year for officers convicted in the General Sani Abacha’s phantom coup of 1997.

Reacting to the cries of families of the officers, especially widows of late Major-General AbdulKarim Adisa, a former Minister of Works and Housing and that of late Lt. Col. Olu Akiyode, who died without getting their gratuities and salary arrears, the former military ruler said that Jonathan needed to respond to those cries of the widows.

Other eminent Nigerians that reacted include a former military governor of a Northern state, who like the former Head of State, insisted on anonymity; leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fashoranti; a chieftain of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and a human rights lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi.

The former Nigerian leader, in an interview with Vanguard, advised that since the pardon, as announced in March 12, was a policy that the government had no option but to implement, either through gazette or an official communication to the Army for the affected officers to get their entitlements and status restoration and lay the issue to rest finally.

Abayomi said: “If they have been pardoned, that means they should be restored to their former positions. I think it is about time that Mr. President completed this pardon process once and for all in the name of integrity.”