As debate lingers over Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential pardon extended to some prominent Nigerians,former Governor of Abia state Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu Monday pleaded that men like Bartholomew Owoh and Major Seun Fadipe should be considered.
Kalu made case for the trio of Owoh,26,Bernard Ogedengbe,29, Lawal Ojulope,30, who were executed in 1985,and Fadipe who was condemned to death in 1998,even after saving the lives of 39 other Nigerians.The Major who was General Oladipo Diya’s Chief Security Officer[CSO] was later set free by Gen.Abdulsalam Abubakar.
According to Kalu,”my heart bleeds anytime i remember Owoh,Ogedegbe and Ojulope.At the time they were alleged to have been drug couriers,penalty for the offence was mild.However,the decree that nailed them was backdated and the Justice Adebayo Desalu tribunal condemned them to death.Owoh’s last words still make me shiver.’I did not pray to die like this.This is a terrible death.If I knew it was going to result to my death,God knows that I would never have had anything to do with it’,he said.Recall that a mobile policeman collapsed when it dawned on him that the youngmen had been silenced.They could be pardoned post humous.”
On Fadipe,the former governor said,”Well,Generals Diya,Tajudeen Olanrewaju and AbdulKareem Adisa have had their ranks restored.Nothing was said of Fadipe who was commended by Gen.Victor Malu for admitting there was a plot,thereby sparing the lives of 39 others.Among them were Col.Emmanuel Shoda,Diya’s Military Assistant,his ADC Maj.Keshinro,Prof.Femi Odekunle,Chief Yomi Tokoya,Col.Edwin Jandoh,Col.Yakubu Bako,journalist Niran Malaolu and Mrs Shola Shoile.”
On the controversy so far,Kalu explained that it was part of democracy.”There is freedom of speech just like the President is covered by the constitution.It is part of Nigerian history.I know Gen.Yakubu Gowon pardoned Chief Obafemi Awolowo.Alhaji Shehu Shagari not only recalled Chief Emeka Ojukwu from exile,he also released Mrs Helen Gomwalk and Capt. Peter Temlong from jail.Gen.Ibrahim Babangida pardoned Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson after they were released from a Decree Four inspired jail.General Abdusalam Abubakar also set Gen.Obasanjo free.”
Kalu also preached forgiveness.” In this Lenten period,Nigerians should learn to forgive.Even Jesus Christ forgave a thief on the Cross.I will also tell this story of Thomas Blood,better known as Captain Blood.He was an Irish adventurer and Parliamentarian who tried to seize Dublin Castle in 1663,and the British Crown in 1671.Captured and doomed for execution,he was pardoned by King Charles the Second.Let me remind us that if there was one man who should have spilled blood,give it to the King,for his father Charles the First had been behheaded earlier.To err they say,is human.To forgive,divine,”the ex-governor summed up.
