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Without Alams, Oil will not Flow- FG
The Presidency, desperate, to justify the pardon it granted, Mr. Diepriye Alamieseigha, the convicted former Governor of Bayelsa State, said, yesterday that Alamieseigha is crucial to Nigeria’s economy and credited him for the increase in the barrels of oil Nigeria now sells on the international market.
Doyin Okupe, senior special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs at a press briefing in Abuja praised Alamieseigha whom he described as “repentant”
A visibly angry reporter at the briefing said “I thought he (Okupe) was going to say the man has refunded millions of dollars he stole when he was in office.”
Not deterred, Okupe, said that “In truth, Alamieseigha since he left prison has been working strenuously and silently to assist the President stabilize the amnesty in the Niger Delta region.
“Alamieseigha is a foremost leader of the Ijaw Nation, and his political and stabilizing influence in that region has impacted positively on the overall economy of the nation, bringing crude oil exports from the abysmally low level of 700,000bpd to over 2.4million bpd.”
According to him, Alamieseigha, who is still wanted by British authorities, can be credited with ensuring that the blood running through Nigeria’s economic artery is not cut off.
The full text of the briefing read below
TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS, DR DOYIN OKUPE ON THURSDAY 14TH MARCH, 2013.
GRANTING OF STATE PARDON: NEED FOR AN OBJECTIVE, HUMANE CONSIDERATION.
Gentlemen of the Press.
I have called this Press Conference to shed more light on the Pardon granted to some Nigerians recently by the National Council of State, especially as it concerns the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepriye Alamiesegha.
I speak to you today, not just as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, but also as a Patriot, a Statesman and a Stakeholder in the Nigerian Polity.
I wish to appeal through this Medium to fellow Nigerians and distinguished members of the Civil Societies for open mindedness on this issue.
This is our country and our dearly beloved Nation which we all owe a duty to nurture, protect, preserve and ensure that after a hundred years of its existence, we hand it over to the next generation as one prosperous indivisible entity where justice, equity and peace reign.
Many will not question the legality or lawfulness of the pardon granted by the National Council of Sate. Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution clearly empowers the President in consultation with the Council of State so to do.
The major concern of many patriotic and reasonable Nigerians is whether the decision is morally right or if it will not send wrong signals on Governments anti-corruption crusade.
These two considerations are my major objectives in addressing this conference and I once again wish to plead earnestly that our people should hear me out and allow us to reason together.
On the issue of morality, I want to state categorically here, that State or Presidential Pardon are not intended for nobility or saints. In general, a state pardon is for those who have committed crimes and breached the laws of the land and may or may not have been tried or convicted regardless of their social status.
A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty; it is usually granted by the head of state (such as a monarch or president) or by acts of parliament or a religious authority.
Today, pardons are granted in many countries when individuals have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise considered to be deserving.
Also, a Prerogative of Mercy by definition is not a justifiable affair. It has to do with discretion and the necessity to redress bitterness and thereby offer healing and forgiveness especially in the presence of evidence of remorse and potential to add value to the country.
This is what made President George H.W Bush in 1992 to say “when earlier wars have ended, Presidents have always used their powers to pardon to put bitterness behind us, and look to the future.
This healing tradition reaches at least from President James Madison’s pardon of La Titte’s pirates after the war of 1812, to Andrew Johnson’s pardon of soldiers who fought for the confederacy, to Harry Truman’s and Jimmy Carter’s pardons of those who violated the selective service laws in World War II and Vietnam”.
The above tradition must have informed President Bill Clinton when he pardoned Fife Syminghton III, former Republican Governor of Arizona who was convicted of bank fraud.
President Bill Clinton similarly ignited a firestorm of controversy when he pardoned Marc Rich, who was charged, in 1983, with cheating the United States Government of nearly $ 50 Million US Dollars and doing business with Iran during the hostage crisis. Rich was never tried as he fled to Switzerland to avoid prosecution
President George H. W. Bush perplexed a majority of American Citizens when he pardoned six people from the administration of his immediate Republican predecessor Ronald Reagan in whose administration he was also the Vice – President.
The six Americans were under investigation for their involvement in the Iran – Contra Affair, which was a National Scandal, involving selling of arms to Iran and using the proceeds to fund Nicaragua counter – revolutionaries.
These are the bastions of leadership of the International Community which our enlightened citizenry are always too eager to use as bench-mark of good governance and democratic propriety. In all these, we must always remember that all Nations of the world have their own characteristics and will always do things that are socio-politically expedient at every point in time.
American history is replete with similar instances of pardons for reasons that may not appear altogether altruistic but which suited the socio-political situations of the country.
Bill Clinton issued a total of 456 pardons, of which one was his younger brother serving a one year jail term in connection with possession of cocaine. George Bush Snr,176, Jimmy Carter 566, Lydon Johnson 1,157 and F D Roosevelt 3,687!
Gentlemen of the Press will recall that former Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha was removed from office in a manner that was suggested by many as not being entirely above board. Nevertheless, the former Bayelsa Governor whose pardon appears to be drawing all the flaks has been tried, found guilty and adequately punished.
He lost his position, forfeited the property illegally acquired and has demonstrated enough soberness after he served his sentence.
It is out of place to suggest that the pardon is tantamount to abandoning the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
This is too far from the truth. It was Lord Denning that perhaps put it more succinctly when he said “the purpose of punishment is not to destroy the offender but rather to reform him and deter others”. These two features, I must emphasise, have been met in this instance.
People have stated that President Jonathan said publicly that Alamieyeisegha was his political benefactor. This is a display of extreme humility and honesty on the part of Mr. President; in this day that virtually all political benefactors, usually turn into enemy number one and are therefore hounded to the ground by the incumbents.
It was God and Providence that lifted President Jonathan over and above his former political boss. But in truth Alamieyeisegha since he left prison has been working strenuously and silently to assist the President stabilize the amnesty in the Niger Delta Region. Alamieyeiseghais a foremost leader of the Ijaw Nation, and his political and stabilizing influence in that region have impacted positively on the overall economy of the nation, bringing crude oil exports from the abysmally low level of 700,00 bpd, to over 2.4 million bpd!
Therefore, it is obvious that, Alamieyeisegha has been a major player since his release from prison in ensuring that the blood that runs through the Nigerian economic artery is not cut off.
In Nigerian history, great and eminent men who have been crucified for one crime or the other have been pardoned by past Presidents and such men have lived thereafter to further enhance our political and socio-economic development.
Amongst those are our respected departed sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the revered Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu who continued after their pardon to contribute immensely to Nigeria’s social, political and economic growth till death.
It has often been said that there is always a season for everything under the sun, a season to punish and a season to forgive. Distinguished gentlemen of the press, fellow Nigerians, this is the season to forgive and to heal. May God forgive us all and bless our country Nigeria.
Before I end this address, let me use this opportunity to announce that in view of the obvious gaps in communication as shown in apparent misunderstanding of issues in the court of public opinion, this department will henceforth hold a bi monthly interactive forum with registered members of the Civil Society Organisations and other critical
stakeholders in the society.This programme will be coordinated by the Special Asistant to the President on Public Relations ,DrOlusanya Awosan, and Alhaji Nasir Zaharadeen ,the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs who are both professionally and academically sound practitioners with many decades of experience in the Media and Public Relations industry.
It is my pleasure to invite your partnership in the success of this initiative which I am sure will facilitate an efficient two way information traffic between the Public and the Presidency.
I thank you.
Dr Doyin Okupe
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs
National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the nationwide digital registration of births and deaths under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system to strengthen legal identity management and improve demographic data.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lokoja on Tuesday, Mr Afolabi Yori, federal commissioner representing Kogi, said the initiative became operational nationwide on July 1, through the VitalReg platform.
Yori described the development as a landmark in Nigeria’s civil registration system, noting that it would modernise birth and death registration through a technology-driven platform that meets international standards.
He said the digital platform would improve service delivery, strengthen data integrity and ensure that every birth and death occurring in Nigeria was accurately documented and securely stored.
According to him, civil registration is more than an administrative process, as it provides reliable statistics that support public policy formulation, resource allocation and national development planning.
“Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, yet millions of births and deaths remain unregistered.
“Birth registration coverage currently stands at about 57 per cent nationwide, while death registration remains below 20 per cent,” he said.
The commissioner said that the commission had established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 local government areas and was working to expand the number to about 8,000.
He added that the commission was strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to improve the capacity of registration personnel and ensure prompt documentation of vital events through the VitalReg platform.
Yori said the platform would provide faster registration services, 24-hour online access, digital certificate issuance where applicable, and reduce paperwork, waiting time and unnecessary travel.
He disclosed that the platform was being operated under a Public-Private Partnership with Barnks-forte Technologies Ltd. as the commission’s technical partner to ensure system availability, cybersecurity and continuous technological improvement.
He called on parents, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to support the initiative by encouraging the prompt registration of births and deaths.
Earlier, Samuel Omonakpeme, director in Kogi, NPC State, described the commencement of the digital registration system as another milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system.
Omonakpeme stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16.9, which seeks to provide legal identity for all.
He appreciated the Federal Government, the leadership of the commission, UNICEF and other development partners for supporting the implementation of the initiative.
The state director also urged parents, guardians, health institutions, community leaders, religious organisations and the media to mobilise public support for the timely registration of all births and deaths.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that ICT personnel of the commission, led by Ehimoni Kolawole, conducted a live demonstration of the digital birth registration process using the VitalReg platform.
The demonstration showed that the registration process captures the biodata of both parents, while at least one parent must possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the registration of a newborn.
Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has alerted its customers to a fraudulent message circulating on social media, falsely claiming that electricity consumers can receive an additional 20 per cent bonus units when recharging their prepaid meters through unofficial channels.
In a statement issued by the company’s management on Monday, YEDC described the claim as false and urged customers to disregard the misleading information, stressing that it did not originate from the company.
According to the statement, YEDC does not offer bonus electricity units through individuals, agents, personal bank accounts, phone numbers, or social media contacts.
The company advised customers to purchase electricity tokens only through approved cashless payment platforms, including the YEDC Pay App, OPay, Interswitch, and other authorised vending channels, or to visit the nearest YEDC office for assistance.
YEDC also cautioned customers against sharing their meter details or personal information, or making payments to unauthorised persons claiming to represent the company.
The company further urged customers to rely exclusively on information disseminated through its official communication channels to avoid falling victim to fraud.
The management thanked customers for their continued cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to serving them.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that two foreign currency accounts opened in connection with the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) have remained inactive since their creation, with no funds deposited and no transactions recorded.
The revelation emerged on Monday during the ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the council.
Lawmakers are investigating allegations that the PFIPC was created and operated without a valid legal framework and outside the established procedures required for government agencies and institutions.
Appearing before the committee, representatives of both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) distanced their institutions from the establishment of the council.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stated that it neither created the council nor possessed the constitutional authority to establish federal agencies.
Representing the office, officials explained that the OHCSF is only responsible for approving administrative structures of government agencies after all necessary requirements have been fulfilled.
According to the office, records showed that the council submitted a request on August 6, 2025, seeking approval for its organisational structure.
However, the application was not approved because the required supporting documents were not attached.
The committee heard that despite the rejection of the request, officials linked to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)/PFIPC later appeared during the 2025 manpower budget defence exercise and sought approval for staffing and recruitment arrangements.
The office disclosed that the council informed government officials that its activities were being carried out largely through personnel seconded or deployed from other institutions.
Lawmakers were told that the council requested approval for a total of 314 positions. The figure consisted of 14 existing officers and an additional 300 proposed positions.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service further revealed that concerns later arose regarding documents presented by the council as evidence of its legal backing.
Officials told the committee that upon examination, the documents failed to display essential features expected of an enabling law or valid legal instrument establishing a government body.
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, head of the Civil Service of the Federation, also rejected claims that her office deployed civil servants to work for the council.
She maintained that the office did not assign personnel to the body and did not provide office accommodation for its operations.
According to her, matters relating to the creation, supervision and oversight of government agencies fall under the responsibilities of other relevant institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Central Bank of Nigeria also provided details regarding accounts linked to the council.Nigerian current events
Hamisu Abdullahi, director at the apex bank, who represented the CBN Governor before the committee, explained that the bank opened two foreign currency accounts following a formal request from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
He told lawmakers that the request was received on July 30, 2025, and instructed the bank to create a United States dollar domiciliary account and a Pound Sterling domiciliary account.
Abdullahi stressed that the CBN only opens accounts for government agencies after receiving official authorisation from the Accountant-General’s office.
However, he disclosed that the accounts never became operational because the council failed to provide authorised signatories required for activation.
As a result, both accounts remained dormant from the day they were opened.
He informed the committee that neither account had received deposits nor processed withdrawals. The accounts also recorded no foreign exchange allocations, remittances, inflows or outflows.Governor election news
According to him, the balances in both accounts remain at zero.
The CBN official further stated that the council did not engage directly with the apex bank regarding the management or operation of the accounts after they were created.
Following the submissions, members of the committee demanded more information as part of efforts to determine the full scope of the council’s activities.
Hon. Abdulmalik Danga, chairman of the committee, directed the Central Bank to submit comprehensive records relating to both the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
The committee requested details covering the opening of the accounts, their operational history and any information connected to related banking activities.
Lawmakers also instructed the CBN to work with commercial banks to identify and provide records of any accounts linked to the entities under investigation.
However, the committee is expected to continue its hearings as more government agencies and officials appear before lawmakers to provide explanations on the controversial council and the circumstances surrounding its operations.
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