There was wild jubilation in Taraba State yesterday following the news of the release of former governor of the state, Rev. Jolly Nyame, from the correctional centre.
Both Nyame and the former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, were observed to have both freed from the high walls of the prison yesterday.
Their release comes four months after the presidential pardon approved by the Council of State, led by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT Command Humphrey Chukwuedo confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), saying the warrant for their release was obtained yesterday.
“We have no right to hold them further as soon as we have the letter of clemency from the Presidency. If we do, it will be against their fundamental human rights. They have left the facility today( Yesterday). We got the warrant of release today and have done the needful,” he said.
The former governors were among 159 convicts pardoned in April, based on recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, according to Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami.
The pardon was widely criticised by Nigerians who regarded the act as a contradiction to the fight against corruption.
But the Presidency insisted that the pardon was based on life-threatening ailments suffered by the governors.
Nyame had been serving a 12-year jail term in the Kuje Medium Security Correctional Centre after being sentenced for misappropriation of funds while he was governor of Taraba between 1999 and 2007.
Dariye was initially sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, but the sentence was reduced to 10 years by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Both had misappropriated billions of naira during their tenure as governors.
Meanwhile, some persons who spoke in Taraba, described the final release of the former governor, who is fondly addressed as the political godfather of the state, as the best favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) government under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, has ever given to the state since coming on board.
Some of these persons, who also took to their social media handles to express their joy over the release, believed that the political atmosphere of the state would now take a different dimension.
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The people who are now looking forward to his arrival into the state, believed that “some politicians are already jittery following his release.”
According to one Sani Danjuma “now that our political godfather has finally regained his freedom, I see most of the politicians here in Taraba State going back to the drawing board”.
Certain that a lot of politicians would align themselves with any of the political parties the former governor may decide to pitch his tent with a lot of political bigwigs, as made known by him “have begun to troop to his house in Abuja to pay him respect.”
He said, “As I am talking with you now, his house in Maitama in Abuja is already filled to capacity with politicians trying to lure him to their sides.”
Another political analyst who gave his name as Jude Ande, said “of course, the political beat of the state will no doubt change now that the godfather of Taraba politics has been set free.”
All the persons who made contributions are all of the view that his position will determine the next political party that will form the government at the state level in the next political dispensation.
Various organizations, at the time of filing this report, are already putting finishing touches to their preparations to welcome the former governor back to the state.
