Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent grant of presidential pardon, labelling the action as a “reckless use” of power that undermines the judicial system and threatens national stability.
In a statement posted on his X page on Sunday, Atiku argued that the power of presidential pardon, a solemn moral and constitutional instrument intended to temper justice with mercy, has been trivialised by the Tinubu administration.
The former presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) criticised the decision to extend clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes, including drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption.
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He stated that this choice not only diminishes the sanctity of justice but also sends a dangerous signal to the public and the international community about the values this government upholds.
Atiku expressed shock and dismay that the Presidency would prioritise clemency for those whose actions have undermined national stability, especially as Nigeria grapples with high insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related offences.
He highlighted a particularly “worrisome” statistic, noting that 29.2% of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related crimes.
According to Atiku, this decision is indefensible when Nigerian youth are being destroyed by narcotics and the nation is working to clear its image of the global stain of drug offences.
He also pointed to what he called a moral irony, referencing the President’s own past being clouded by unresolved and unexplained issues related to the forfeiture of funds to the United States government over drug investigations.
He suggested this background explains the administration’s worrying tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise.
Atiku stated that the pardon represents a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, and a demoralisation of law enforcement.
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He cautioned that clemency must never be confused with complicity.
Atiku warned that when a government absolves offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness.
