Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to review and issue the latest presidential pardon list, describing it as “an act of shame, not wisdom.”
In a detailed statement released on his social‑media handle, Atiku argued that the prerogative of mercy, enshrined under the Nigerian Constitution, is meant to mediate justice with compassion — not become a tool that compromises the rule of law.
He pointed out that the latest pardon exercise, which reportedly included individuals convicted of grave offences such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder and corruption, undermines public confidence in the justice system.
Atiku also highlighted a statistic showing that nearly 30 per cent of those granted clemency were convicted for drug‑related crimes — a move he called “especially worrying” given Nigeria’s ongoing battle against narcotics and youth vulnerability.
“When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness,” Atiku stated.
He further drew attention to what he described as the “moral irony” of the pardon coming at a time when the President’s past remains shadowed by unresolved issues linked to drug‑related investigations abroad.
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Atiku concluded by urging the government to prioritise justice, rather than appear to reward impunity, saying that Nigeria “deserves a leadership that upholds justice, not one that trivialises it.”
