Founder of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has revealed how he intervened in the decision that led to the presidential pardon granted to former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Bakare spoke at the second edition of the Citadel School of Governance Dialogue Series, themed ‘The Rough Road to Reforms: The Risks, the Resistance, the Reprisals, and the
Resilient Leader,’ held in Lagos.

He said he met with former President Goodluck Jonathan when he was serving as acting president, urging him to grant a pardon to Alamieyeseigha.

According to Bakare, unrest in Bayelsa State at the time prompted his intervention, as he traced the tension to the plight of the former governor.

He said Alamieyeseigha had told him that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua encouraged him to accept a plea bargain with a promise of eventual pardon.

Bakare said he subsequently approached Jonathan with the request. “I told him that this man is like your father; he brought you into politics as deputy governor.

He is in this situation, and this was the understanding with President Yar’Adua. Will you pardon him?’ He said he could not do it immediately, but promised to act after the election,” Bakare said.

He added that Jonathan fulfilled the promise after winning the election, though the decision attracted public criticism.

“When he granted the pardon, there was widespread outrage, but I chose not to comment at the time,” he said.

Bakare also spoke on his role in influencing public policy decisions, citing how he persuaded former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to alter a road expansion plan in Abeokuta to preserve the burial site of Sodeke.