May 03, (THEWILL) – Renaissance Group for Better Nigeria has alleged that there is a grand plot to frustrate the release of the former Governor of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame, former Governor, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and 152 others, recently granted a pardon by the National Council of State.
According to the group, those behind the plot include certain political forces in Plateau with vested interest in the 2023 general elections, who feel that Dariye’s release could alter their calculations and change the arrangements they have put in place to determine the next political leadership in the state.
The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Jonathan Ibrahim, expressed surprise and disappointment that almost one month after the pardon, nothing has been done to effect their release.
According to the group, there should be no need for delay, since the pardon was granted by the highest decision making body in the country, noting that the decision of the National Council of State is supposed to be acted upon without much delay.
“We are surprised that they are still been held and many Nigerians, especially their loved ones, are beginning to have scary impression about the implications of the pronouncement by the NCS”, the statement noted.
“We are, therefore, calling on all relevant authorities, especially the Ministry of Justice, to do all that that is required and necessary to facilitate their release, to avoid unnecessary insinuations. More so, their political associates and families are eager and anxiously waiting for their arrival”, the statement added.
The Renaissance Group also said, “we equally learnt that since the pronouncement of their pardon, both friends, relations, and associates have been trooping into Kuje prison to receive them, but have been returning frustrated. This should not be the case. The decision of this apex body needs to be respected and acted upon with quick dispatch.”
It argued further that “in a democracy, issues like this should not be delayed because keeping them longer than necessary means their fundamental human rights are being trampled upon.”
According to the statement, “the last we heard was that the person who was supposed to process the papers was out of the country for the lesser Hajj and now that the person is back, there should be no room for delay anymore.”
The Renaissance Group therefore appealed to the authorities concerned, especially the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to expedite action on the matter without allowing the magnanimity of the NCS to become an issue for political intrigues.
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