By Nigerians Abroad staff writer
Members and supporters of Nigeria’s ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday took to the street to welcome one of the party’s chieftains, Mr Bode George, after serving two years jail term for fraud.
Mr Bode George - former PDP Vice Chairman for the south-west region - was convicted of 35 counts charges over contract splitting, inflation and abuse of office , during his tenure as Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) by a Lagos High Court in October 2009 along side five other accused.
Lagos based newspaper, Vanguard, reports that Mr. George stepped out of the prison gate at 10:40am local time to the warm reception of some PDP leaders and hundreds of his supporters.
The convicted chieftain was accompanied by men of the Nigerian police through crowd of cheering party members before he was driven to the Cathedral Church of Christ in Lagos Island for a thanksgiving service.
The church service was well attended by PDP chieftains from the region, and includes former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and his arch rival, Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.
Other party faithful that paid visit and praised the courage of the convicted chieftain include: Raymond Dokpesi, member Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign council; Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju; former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu; former deputy governor of Osun State, Chief Olusola Obada; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Chief Mrs Remi Adikwu Bakare; Chairman of PDP in Lagos State, Mr Setonji Koshoedeo; Dr Ade Dosumu, PDP governorhip candidate in Lagos and Chief Deji Doherty.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have been expressing shock and disbelief over the awful celebrations that accompanied the politician released.
“This is a shame to the nation. A man was sentenced to prison for defrauding the nation of millions of naira. Instead of the family to be quite about it, they hired crowd to dance in the street and welcome a thief . All the PDP people were celebrating. Please tell the all world that this country is doomed,” Mr. Segun Ojeolu, an eyewitness wrote from Lagos.
Mr George supporters argue that he was a victim of unfortunate administrative error that turned into political vendetta.
In a swift reaction, Nigeria’s main opposition party Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has slammed the ruling party for celebrating Mr. George.
Bode George being guarded by member of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) after his release from the Kirikiri maximum prison
ACN national Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lai Mohammed in a statement said, “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”
While some PDP stalwarts believed that the released of George could help brightens the party’s chances in the State governorship poll slated for April, the public backlash from the bizarre celebration, political observers suggest, may further damage the reputation of the party across the country.
every conscious nigerian today have no right again to indentity those who are their oppressors-the pdp,a look at the members that conposed the party shows that they are the exmilitary corrupt millionaire Generals and the old brigade corrupt civilian conspirators!They should be held responsible for the caterstrofic, near colapes of the political, socio, and cultural situation in our country. they are resposible for the sufferation of the majority of us nigerians worldwide and the widespread crimiality on heard of in the 60s that are now the order of the day with the end not in sight soon .its time for the poor odinary common nigerian -s to demand the end to their oppression now from their oppressor the pdp !
It is an irony of history, that a man condemn and convicted of corruption in Nigeria is being celebrated and turned into hero upon completion of his two years conviction into prison.
It is only in Nigeria that such despecable behaviour will be celebrated by citizens and the ruling political party leadership. What message are these people sending to other politicians and citizen of Nigeria?
This makes one to wonder. Is this Nation ready for eradication of corruption? Are the citizens of the Nation ready? Is the leadership of this Country ready to fight corruption?
From the foregoing, you can see evidence of state sponsor corruption, institutionalization of Corruption. This is a major obstacle for the Nation.
There has to be a total war. It has to be fought. Are the generality of Nigerian citizens ready?
Nigerians just get ready if PDP win april election just let’s start to revolt without waisting time. PDP is a wrong party celebrating the release of exconvict Bode George who stole about 600 Billions of Naira which is not a small money. PDP have shown the world how we are. This is a wrong signal to Nigerians & our youth. Monkey see Monkey do, & this what is going to happen now. People would start lootting now cause of this. PDP is full of rogues, they hand pick criminals to rule us. The same thing Ibori was an exconvict & shop lifter in London, he came back to Nigeria & was a governor for 8 years. Its time we start to screen & do drug test for all of them. Some of them are criminals that not supose to be in goverment. Shame to PDP. We should not allow PDP to rule again, they have mess up & distroy the country. We are under very bad leadership. bad goverment. Is either we vote for Buhari or Ribadu they are the right people. The are more intelligent than Jonathan aka Jona (sleeper). Jonathan is not the right president for us. He’s FAKE. an opportunist. Please just go back to your village. Don’t bring us bad luck. We want to progress & move forward but you don’t have the knowledg how to move the country to another level. Before I like you but now no way. I have seing that you are a complete Joker.