Family members of a former Minister of Works, the late Maj.-Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, have expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and Nigerians over the pardon granted to Adisa by the National Council of State.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday granted state pardon, as approved by the National Council of State, to Adisa and a few others.

Adisa's widow, Hajia Ramat, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, said the family members were highly excited and happy about the state pardon.

She commended the President, members of the NCS and all Nigerians for the posthumous pardon granted her husband.

She stated that the government's gesture was a welcome development and a relief to the family.

She added that the entire family would remain grateful to Jonathan, members of the NCS and the entire Nigerians.

She also thanked the people that stood by the family during their trying times.

Ramat said she would have been happier if her late husband was alive to enjoy the pardon.

"I am very happy. The whole family members are happy for the pardon the Federal Government granted my husband. We cannot thank everybody enough for what they have done.

"We also thank President Goodluk Jonathan. But I wish my husband was alive to witness this pardon. However, we thank God for everything. The family is happy about it. I am happy about it," Ramat said.

Also, one of Adisa's sons, Alhaji Abayomi, said the pardon granted his late father was most welcome.

He commended Jonathan and members of the NCS for the pardon.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has commended Jonathan and the NCS for granting a posthumous pardon to Adisa.

Ahmed, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said the gesture was a welcome development.

He said it was particularly noteworthy that the Council of State took cognisance of the worthy contribution of Adisa and others to the process of nation building and national cohesion.

Ahmed said Jonathan's gesture was a demonstration of a huge capacity to heal wounds and correct some misgivings.