Most members of the Council were not aware of the list of pardoned ex-convicts, especially the inclusion of former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, until they got to the session.
The agenda was said to be scanty with a heading merely referring to prerogative of mercy.
It was also learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan met with the principal officers of the National Assembly and the leadership of the Judiciary on Monday, in a bid to stave off the likely backlash which a reprieve for Alamieyeseigha might generate.
At the session with National Assembly and Judiciary leaders, Jonathan merely restated his commitment to the anti-corruption war.
Most leaders at the meeting did not realise the import of the “renewed pledge” against corruption, until they got to the Council of State meeting.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As a matter of fact, a deliberate strategy was adopted to keep the list of beneficiaries of the pardon under wrap till the last minute.
“Some strategists in the Presidency were of the opinion that a leakage of the list, especially that of Alamieyeseigha, could ignite a public protest which might force the government to backpedal.
“There were also fears that opposition parties might join issues with the government and prevail on their governors to shun the meeting.
“The list was also padded to give it a national colouration and earn the sympathy of members across the six geopolitical zones.
“These were the reasons why most council members could not fault the list because they had little time to debate it.”
Another source,who pleaded not to be named, also claimed that sensing likely resentment from the National Assembly and the Judiciary, the President had on Monday met with leaders of the two arms of government to “renew pledge” to the war against corruption.
The source, who was at the session, said: “Some of us did not understand the import of the renewed pledge until we got to know of the pardon at the Council of State meeting.
“What the Presidency did was to place National Assembly and Judiciary leaders on a stable psychological plane ahead of the unfolding of his plans at the meeting on Tuesday.
“So, the strategies were well-thought out and members of the Council of State were caught off-guard to buy into it.”
On why reporters were not briefed after the meeting, another source, who also pleaded not to be named, because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said: “No council member, including any of the governors, was willing to go and defend the pardon for Alamieyeseigha because of public reaction.
“Also, the Presidency was a bit careful about national and international outcry, which could rubbish the mileage gained so far in the anti-graft war.”
Source: The Nation
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