Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State is currently being criticised over his silence on the pardon President Muhammadu Buhari granted former Governors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye.
The duo, who were jailed for corruption, were pardoned at a Council of State meeting last Thursday.
- FLASHBACK: How Keyamo, others accused Jonathan of damaging Nigeria’s image over Alamieyeseigha’s pardon
- How El-Rufai Attacked Jonathan For Granting Presidential Pardon To Alamieyeseigha
The development had sparked outrage, with human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, asking Buhari to pardon all thieves in prison.
Nine years ago, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was under the hammer over a similar pardon granted to Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa State.
Back then, El-Rufai had said it typified the height of insensitivity of Jonathan’s government to the feelings of Nigerians about the war against corruption.
El-Rufai had said, “Nobody said you should eradicate corruption, but don’t go around pardoning convicted people that have been convicted by regular courts for corruption and then you say you are fighting corruption. You are sending the wrong signal not only to those engaging in corruption but to young people who see that there is reward in being corrupt. That is what Jonathan is doing.”
Majority of Nigerians who commented on the video took the Governor to the cleaners, saying they were waiting for his comment on Buhari’s pardon.
@emsirs said, “Will say Buhari didn’t start this, the previous administration did it before him so he’s not the first.”
@EzomsIyke wrote, “Buhari even did worse, he pardoned people still serving jail terms. GEJ only re-integrated a person who has finished serving his jail term back to the society by pardoning him.”
@Fazlurfarah said, “Shame on Hell Rufai and Buhari’s cohorts.”
@AynyiamBarnabas said, “elrufai and Buhari just like all Buharists are dead among the living Of course dead men have dead conscience.”
@ObizueDivine wrote, “He has a big mouth. I am waiting for his comments about @MBuhari.”
Tweeting via @limsa, one Moshood Lekan Salau said, “When you talk too much,Elrufai talks from both side of his mouth.he loves power only not leaders that ready to take responsibility we are waiting for his comment on PMB pardon”