Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the recent revocation of presidential pardons earlier approved for some convicted individuals, including persons found guilty of serious crimes such as drug trafficking and kidnapping.
Atiku described the move as an act of “acting before thinking.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, signed by Phrank Shaibu, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President, described the President’s decision to cancel the pardons as “an act of shame, not wisdom,” accusing the government of being reactive and lacking foresight.
“Once again, Nigerians have witnessed a government that doesn’t lead — it reacts,” he said.
“This U-turn is not an act of wisdom, it’s an act of shame. If Nigerians had kept quiet, would convicted drug lords and kidnappers be walking free today under the President’s blessing?”
Atiku also questioned how the initial list of pardon beneficiaries was compiled and approved, demanding accountability from those involved in the process.
“Who compiled the list? What criteria justified freeing kidnappers and drug offenders? Where was the Attorney-General when this absurdity was cooked up?” he asked.
He argued that the episode reflects a recurring pattern of poor decision-making by the Tinubu administration — one in which, according to him, policies are announced without proper consideration and later reversed following public backlash.
“This pattern has become too familiar — announce the unthinkable, watch the country erupt, then hurriedly reverse course as if governance is a game of trial and error,” he said.
The statement further stated that a presidential pardon should represent justice and mercy, not a reward for impunity.
“A presidential pardon is not a social experiment. It is a sacred constitutional power meant to reflect justice, mercy, and national interest — not to reward impunity or test public patience,” he said.
Atiku called on the federal government to publish the full list of individuals who were initially recommended for clemency, including details of their offences, to ensure transparency.
“If the President truly means well, let him publish the list of all those who were meant to benefit from this scandal. Let Nigerians see the names, the crimes, and the hands that signed off on this reckless indulgence,” he said.
He concluded that the government’s reversal was merely an attempt at “damage control.
“Until then, this cancellation is nothing but damage control — too little, too late,” the statement added.