{"id":285034,"date":"2011-03-01T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-03-01T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/03\/01\/bode-george-mega-reception-for-an-ex-convict\/"},"modified":"2011-03-01T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2011-03-01T07:00:00","slug":"bode-george-mega-reception-for-an-ex-convict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/01\/bode-george-mega-reception-for-an-ex-convict\/","title":{"rendered":"Bode George: Mega reception for an ex-convict"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n<\/p>\n

Gbenga Adeniji writes that criticisms have continued to trail the reception organised for a former convicted Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Bode George, who was freed from the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was an irony that there is a Nigerian Ports Authority sign post at the junction leading to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, where one of its erstwhile chairmen, Chief Olabode George, had been for two years for corruption perpetrated while in office.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before his release on Saturday, the supporters of the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party had arrived the venue as early as 5.38am to give him a grand welcome. They parked their vehicles in every available space in the area. Some of them wore white, blue and green coloured T-shirts, while many showed determination to wait until he was released.<\/span><\/p>\n

They had planned to follow him to the Cathedral Church of Christ for the thanksgiving service slated for noon same day. Besides, there were posters printed to announce his freedom and one of them bore the inscription \u2018\u2018Olabode George, Joseph of our time.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

The security was tight just as political thuggery and fanfare were in abundance, all for George, who alongside five others, the NPA Managing Director, Mr. Aminu Dabo, Messrs Olusegun Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maidaribe and Sule Aliyu, were on October 26, 2009 sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine by a Lagos High Court in Ikeja over abuse of office, contract splitting, disobedience to lawful order and award of N100bn contract without due process.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on August 2008 arraigned him and other accused on 163-charge but reduced it to 68 on October 24, 2008.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before his conviction, some party loyalists reportedly turned the court to a \u2018parade\u2019 ground as they besieged the place wearing Ankara and lace materials. And the women among them brightly tied headgears. They did that every court proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n

For his release, however, the scenario did not look different only that it was not a court place but a prison area. Officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service did not find it easy controlling the teeming supporters. They intermittently chased them with security dogs as they tried to get into the prison yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Journalists, who arrived the area early were ordered to stay away by the state Public Relations Officer of the NPS, Mr. Ope Fatinikun. He said that they were not invited.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the journalists challenged him that they did not need an invitation to cover the event. Fatinikun later asked them to stay and perform their duties. They were ready to commence their duties when some thugs said they would not want any journalist to cover the event and threatened to smash the cameras of anybody who do so particularly those from some media houses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two naval ratings, who underrated the dogs as they walked near them nearly felt their fierceness. All of a sudden, two of the dogs leapt with a view to attacking them. If their handlers had not acted quickly by calming them down, the duo would have been wounded.<\/span><\/p>\n

This infuriated the naval ratings, who engaged the handlers in a hot argument. An air force man, who saw what happened, parked his vehicle and joined in the argument.<\/span><\/p>\n

He blamed the handlers for what he believed was their carelessness. But for the intervention of two senior officers of the NPS, it would have ended in a free-for-all.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was a gridlock and motorists within the neighbourhood found it difficult driving out after the conclusion of the sanitation which held that day. Dealers in alcoholic drinks also used the opportunity to make money as people drank and smoked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides, it was a field day for the hoodlums who ensured that they collected money from some chieftains of the party like the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, before they entered the prison yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jubilation rent the air at 10.30am when George was released. He hurriedly waved to his supporters before entering a metallic black jeep which was later mounted by some of the ecstatic loyalists. In a convoy of vehicles and blasting of sirens, they drove towards the church.<\/span><\/p>\n

The church was filled to capacity. And many who were not able sit inside stood outside to catch glimpses of what happened inside by craning their necks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among those who arrived early to the church were Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, Arapaja and the National Vice-Chairman, South-West of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo. They sat patiently waiting for the service to commence.<\/span><\/p>\n

They were joined later by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who came in when the cleric was praying, former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), the factional governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, Gen. Tunji Olurin (retd.), the country\u2019s High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, among others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obasanjo was the cynosure of all eyes as many tried to watch how Daniel would acknowledge his presence. Daniel greeted and the former responded by patting his hand warmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Delivering a sermon titled, A minister and a witness, Ven. Tayo Aduloju, noted that George\u2019s presence in the church was his first outing. He stated that from that day, he had become an ambassador of Christ and urged him to be committed to God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aduloju said, \u201cAs your power cannot stop you from going to jail, it shows that real power belongs to God, not to the PDP or anybody. As from today you are to represent Christ. Never again will the name of God be brought to shame through you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

People had a hectic time leaving the church premises as thugs struggled to obtain money from the politicians who were protected by security operatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

The audience who were in droves thereafter headed to the freed politician\u2019s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos to continue the carnival-like celebration.<\/span><\/p>\n

But in a swift reaction to the reception, the Action Congress of Nigeria speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, said that the action of the PDP was tantamount to advising Nigerian youth that there is honour in stealing public funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The party stressed that George was not jailed for his political beliefs but for looting the money meant for the development and management of Nigerian ports.<\/span><\/p>\n

ACN said, \u2018\u2018Let us remind Nigerians that partly because of George\u2019s grand larceny, it now takes five times the number of time it should take to clear a container; while the Apapa Port can hardly handle some ocean-growing vessels bringing imported fuel, thus heightening the possibility of fuel scarcity. This is the man for whom the President\u2019s campaign coordinator for the South-West, Governor Gbenga Daniel\u2013apparently standing in for his boss-turned up in Lagos with fanfare to receive.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

It stated that there was no where such action could be possible except in Nigeria and that no political party \u2018\u2018is capable of this theatre of the absurd except the PDP.\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties said it found it difficult to place President Goodluck Jonathan\u2019s anti-corruption crusade as he sent his Minister of Defence to represent him at the \u2018obscene\u2019 event.<\/span><\/p>\n

The CNPP declared that the president through the action had failed to show leadership and cast doubt on the sincerity of his administration to tackle graft.<\/span><\/p>\n

It noted, \u201cWhat lessons or legacies are bequeathing to future generations, when we are celebrating a man from prison not for political charges but criminal charges.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Read more:
\nBode George: Mega reception for an ex-convict<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gbenga Adeniji writes that criticisms have continued to trail the reception organised for a former convicted Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Bode George, who was freed from the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons on Saturday. It was an irony that there is a Nigerian Ports Authority sign post at the junction leading to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, where one of its erstwhile chairmen, Chief Olabode George, had been for two years for corruption perpetrated while in office. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-285034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nBode George: Mega reception for an ex-convict - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/01\/bode-george-mega-reception-for-an-ex-convict\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Bode George: Mega reception for an ex-convict - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Gbenga Adeniji writes that criticisms have continued to trail the reception organised for a former convicted Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Bode George, who was freed from the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons on Saturday. 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