Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting presidential pardons to individuals convicted of serious crimes, including drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and corruption. Atiku described the move as a grave moral and constitutional misstep that threatens Nigeria’s justice system and public trust....Click to Read More >>➤

In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, Atiku said the decision reflects poorly on the Tinubu administration’s values and governance priorities. According to him, the presidential power of pardon is intended to “temper justice with mercy,” but Tinubu’s latest exercise “has done the very opposite.”

He stated that the decision “diminishes the sanctity of justice, demoralizes law enforcement officers, and makes a mockery of the criminal justice system.” Atiku accused the President of using executive powers to reward individuals whose actions have endangered Nigeria’s social and moral fabric.

“The power of pardon is a solemn constitutional prerogative meant to correct miscarriages of justice, not to reward people who have contributed to insecurity, drug abuse, and corruption,” Atiku declared. “What President Tinubu has done is an affront to the moral conscience of the Nigerian state.”

The former Vice President expressed particular concern that nearly 30 percent of the beneficiaries were reportedly convicted for drug-related offences, calling it “a slap in the face of Nigerian youths battling addiction and unemployment.” He warned that the decision sends a troubling message to both the international community and local law enforcement agencies fighting to curb drug trafficking.

“It is shocking that at a time when Nigeria is struggling with moral decay and substance abuse, the government would rather pardon those who have fueled the problem,” Atiku said. “This is not mercy — it is complicity.”

Atiku also questioned President Tinubu’s moral authority, referencing past allegations of drug-linked financial forfeitures in the United States. He argued that such history “explains why this administration continues to show tolerance toward individuals tied to criminal enterprises.”

He further noted that the move undermines the sacrifices of security operatives and disrespects victims of violent and economic crimes. “A pardon should represent moral reform and genuine remorse, not political convenience or misplaced sympathy,” he said.

The opposition leader urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, warning that the Tinubu administration’s actions could normalize corruption and criminality in high places.

“Nigeria deserves a leadership that strengthens justice, not one that erodes it,” Atiku concluded. “This reckless pardon has once again exposed the moral decay at the heart of this government.” ...Click to Read More >>➤