ACN, CNPP blast PDP for celebrating Bode George’s release

By Olusola Fabiyi and Mudiaga Affe

Monday, 28 Feb 2011

The Action Congress of Nigeria and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties on Sunday warned the Peoples Democratic Party not to send wrong signals to Nigerian youths that there were good rewards for corruption.


The ACN’s warning came on the heels of Saturday’s grand reception organised by the PDP for its former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George, on his release from a two-year jail term.


George was jailed for abuse of office, contract splitting and disobedience to lawful order.


In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said the PDP‘s action was a wrong signal to Nigerian youths. The ACN said it was akin to telling Nigerian youths that public officers could steal or mismanage public funds and be treated like heros.


“There is nothing wrong in rehabilitating a prisoner. But turning an occasion that calls for penitence and soberness to a carnival of sorts is a disservice to Nigeria, and a clear signal that the wobbly anti-corruption war of the Goodluck Jonathan administration is finally dead. It also ridicules Nigeria in the eyes of the world,” it said.


The ACN said George was jailed for stealing money meant for port management and development, not for his political beliefs.


“Let us remind Nigerians that partly because of Bode George‘s grand larceny, it now takes five times the number of time it should take to clear a container; while the Apapa port can hardly handle some ocean-growing vessels bringing in imported fuel, thus heightening the possibility of fuel scarcity.


“This is the man for whom a party (PDP) seeking the votes of Nigerians in April‘s general elections pulled all the stops to give a hero‘s welcome from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. This is the man whom serving ministers of a government that is supposed to be fighting corruption besieged Lagos to welcome.


“This is the man for whom the President‘s campaign coordinator for the South-West, Governor Gbenga Daniel - apparently standing in for his boss – turned up in Lagos with fanfare to receive. Nowhere in the world is this kind of action possible, except in Nigeria. And no party is capable of this theatre of the absurd except the PDP,” the party said.


In a separate statement, the CNPP expressed surprise at the celebration of George’s release from jail. In the statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the CNPP said it was outraged over “the obscene celebration of George, an ex-convict in Lagos on Saturday, by eminent citizens among whom were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State), ex-governors and two serving ministers.”


The CNPP said it was at a loss on where to locate the Jonathan administration’s anti-graft crusade when the President delegated the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, to represent him at the ‘obscene’ celebration.


CNPP said, ”President Jonathan from all intents and purposes by this act has failed woefully to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a constitution which frowns against corruption, failed to show leadership and questioned the sincerity of his commitment to war against corruption.


“Accordingly, we are appalled that the president of our dear country can openly, without prejudice to his oath of office, celebrate a man who was convicted on a 163-count criminal charge bearing on abuse of public trust, contract splitting and financial misappropriation to the tune of N100bn. What lessons or legacies are we bequeathing to future generations, when we are celebrating a man from prison not for political charges but criminal charges?”

http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201102281592315

Can Tinubu account for his ownership of Oriental Hotel in Lekki?

What about the Sunburn Yacht?

If not, WHY is Tinubu embraced and celebrated by ACN?

Why is he embraced by Fashola, Ribadu etc etc, our self-proclaimed ''fighters of corruption''?

RANK, LOUD MOUTHED HYPOCRITES.

REMOVE THE CORRUPT LOG IN YOUR OWN EYE FIRST BEFORE POINTING OUT OTHERS'.

@Rossike,

Why dont you tell us where you stand on this whole thing rather critisizing others for expressing thier views.

Let Tinubu be found guilty, sentenced to jail, serve his time, come out amidst celebration, and I will condemn it.

I am sure Tinubu, the ACN leader, who ruled Lagos State for 8 years, stole more money than Bode George, Ibori, Igbinedion, Fayose and all others combined.

Is this about Tinubu or Bode George?

Nigerians illiterates at it again

LOL.

Ribadu called Tinubu a thief of international dimensions, now, he is bed mates with Tinubu, so, whats the big deal about BG's welcome? and Bode George wasnt convicted of corruption and stealing, but for abuse of office, meanwhile Tinubu is out there enjoying his own loot.

monkeyleg:

Is this about Tinubu or Bode George?Nigerians illiterates at it again

I really marvel at how some Nigerians reason. Rather than tell us their opinion about the issue at hand , i.e the celebration of the release from prision of a convicted criminals who has contributed to us been where we are today as a Nation, they are busy screaming TINUBU when the man is not even mentioned in the article .  We can all see that the ACN and CNPP are the critics of the actions of the PDP . Abeg , when did Tinubu change his name to ACN + CNPP? Tinubu has become such a bogeyman to some to the extent that they no longer engage their brain before they scream TINUBU !!!!!!

@Gbawe,

The only thing worse than the actual theft by Uncle George, is Political Ashaworism. I dont get human beings who are prepared to stare the truth in the face and sell their souls, most times for a very cheap fee.

monkeyleg:

@Gbawe,

The only thing worse than the actual theft by Uncle George, is Political Ashaworism. I dont get human beings who are prepared to stare the truth in the face and sell their souls, most times for a very cheap fee.

Don't mind them . They are all the actual enemies of Nigeria - even if they are too confused to know it . At various points , they have singled out IBB, Dokpesi, Atiku, Ciroma, Saraki and virtually 150 million Nigerians as "enemies of progress" and "enemies of fresh air". All the names they previously villified with venom and gusto are now pals of their idol whose "polical ashaworism" appears to leave his clueless fans dazed and discombobulated . They are onstantly forced to 'befriend' those they trashed yesterday because their 'god' is shamelessly unprincipled. Tinubu is not even mentioned in the aritcle yet GEJ fans mention his name exposing the same lack of enduring focus and dearth of principles troubling their 'messiah' . Since all the ruinous hands that have destroyed Nigeria are now behind GEJ , his decietful fans have no choice but to 'crank up' their attack against Tinubu in their constant search for an omnipotent 'bad guy' that coneviently precludes a need to look closely at the candidate they support in proof of the adage that "wetin you dey find go Sokoto dey for sokoto trouser". That is what I stated below:

Is it not amazing how insincerity, lack of integrity,  absence of sound judgement and dearth of enduring logical analysis runs through the DNA of Jonathan fans? Do you guys have no shame ? You now mention Tinubu everyday . Why ? Is it because all the "enemies of GEJ and Nigeria" you villified as evil and needing to be put to the sword now happen to be pals of you unprincipled idol who stands for nothing and has no enduring integrity, backbone or uprightness?

Yesterday it was IBB = Indepependent bomb blast. Dokpesi was one of the "enemies of Nigeria who will spend the rest of his life in jail". Atiku was an "evil radical mullah". Saraki a "fraudster" . Yuguda was a "cabal plotter" during the times he opposed GEJ and Ciroma the "devil's incarnate" and an example of "the retrogressive force of the past that will be banished by fresh air". Sadly your unprincipled "fresh air" has dissapointed you all with how quickly he is happy to jump into bed with all the above before one can even say condom !!! You guys now shamelessly want to transfer every negativity against Tinubu by making him the number one bad guy because , as per Jonathan's political cheapness, you are running out of enemies to fight . Face it . You are all clowns . Discredited ones at that too. If Tinubu pledges support for GEJ tomorrow you sorry folks will probably be left with no choice but to begin attacking Wole Soyinka or Ojukwu from his sick bed abroad !!!!!

ROSSIKE:

Can Tinubu account for his ownership of Oriental Hotel in Lekki?

What about the Sunburn Yacht?

If not, WHY is Tinubu embraced and celebrated by ACN?

Why is he embraced by Fashola, Ribadu etc etc, our self-proclaimed ''fighters of corruption''?

RANK, LOUD MOUTHED HYPOCRITES.

REMOVE THE CORRUPT LOG IN YOUR OWN EYE FIRST BEFORE POINTING OUT OTHERS'.

Another Bundle of Rubbish by an Hired Poster of GEJ.
Arrant Nonsense

Join the revolution, time to eradicate backwardness, PDP must go!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/1-million-Nigerians-against-PDP-Peoples-Democratic-Party/192029764165077

That is why most Nigerian students fail exam woefully, The article mentioned Bode, ACN + Cnpp and PDP,
Tell us your opinion about the issue at hand and stop writing OUT OF POINT
if na exam na, those people way mentioned Tinubu don fail

There was no basis for them to blast the PDP as corrupt individual could be found in those same parties as well simple.

PDP has every right to celebrate a reformed member that has realized his mistakes and is now ready to contribute positively to the nation's development.

How else can it not be PDP