Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar slams President Tinubus government for reviewing a controversial clemency list following public outrage branding the administration as one that thinks after it acts The cancelled pardon saga highlights severe concerns over policy foresight and due process .
A Crisis of Policy Foresight
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recently faced a torrent of public and political criticism culminating in a sharp memorable rebuke from former Vice President and opposition leader Atiku Abubakar The controversy erupted following the Presidencys controversial release and subsequent review and partial reversal of a Presidential clemency list This policy U-turn which saw the removal of several high-profile convicts initially granted pardon was an apparent reaction to overwhelming public outrage .
In a strongly worded statement Atiku the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the 2023 elections castigated the administrations reactive approach to governance He pointedly labelled the Tinubu government as one that operates with the philosophy of A government that thinks after it acts suggesting a severe lack of foresight due process and proper vetting in one of the most solemn constitutional duties of the President The saga has intensified the debate over the administrations capacity for consistent and well-considered policy execution turning a constitutional exercise of mercy into a national embarrassment .
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II The Anatomy of the Scandal The Initial Clemency List
The source of the political firestorm was the initial announcement of clemency granted to a broad spectrum of convicts While the President has the constitutional prerogative of mercy the list quickly drew scrutiny for including individuals convicted of heinous crimes Of particular note was the inclusion of Maryam Sanda who was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband Bilyaminu Bello Alongside her reports indicated the list contained numerous individuals convicted of serious offences including drug trafficking kidnapping illegal mining and fraud .
This initial list immediately triggered a public backlash that transcended political affiliations Victims families human rights groups legal experts and the general populace condemned the pardons arguing that such a move undermined the justice system trivialised grievous crimes and risked encouraging impunity The sheer volume and intensity of the public outcry against the release of hardened criminals forced the Presidency to take a dramatic and embarrassing step back .
III The Reversal and Atikus Scathing Critique
Bowing to pressure the Tinubu administration announced a review and subsequent revocation of the pardon for many of the high-profile and controversial beneficiaries Maryam Sandas death sentence for instance was reportedly commuted to a term of imprisonment factoring in time already served effectively cancelling her initial highly contested pardon .
It was this reversal that prompted Atiku Abubakars powerful critique Describing the entire episode as an act of shame not wisdom Atikus aide Phrank Shaibu accused the government of reacting only after being woken from its moral slumber by Nigerians shouts The core of Atikus grievance encapsulated in the quote A government that thinks after it acts is that the process leading to the initial list was fundamentally flawed and lacked moral consistency .
He questioned the entire process demanding transparency and accountability Who compiled the list of beneficiaries What criteria justified freeing kidnappers and drug offenders Where was the Attorney-General when this absurdity was cooked up And why does this government only discover its conscience after Nigerians express outrage This line of attack framed the reversal not as a sign of a listening government but as a desperate act of damage control for an executive wing governed without foresight without empathy and without shame .
IV Erosion of Confidence and Governance by Reversal
The pardon saga is not the first instance where the Tinubu administration has been accused of governance by reversal Critics point to other policy U-turns—such as earlier cancellations of newly announced leadership changes at federal parastatals—as evidence of a broader pattern This recurring theme of announcing a significant decision only to withdraw or modify it following public outrage suggests a severe deficiency in due process coordination among government agencies and pre-policy public sentiment testing .
A presidential pardon a sacred constitutional power intended to temper justice with mercy should be the result of a rigorous discreet and well-vetted process by the Council of State and the Attorney Generals office The fact that the process was so easily corrupted to include convicted murderers and drug kingpins and had to be hastily reviewed raises significant doubts about the administrative competence and integrity of the Presidents key policy advisers The episode damages public confidence not just in the administrations judgement but in the sanctity of the entire justice and judicial process .
V Political Ramifications and the Road Ahead
For Atiku Abubakar and the opposition the cancelled pardon provides potent ammunition to frame the Tinubu administration as erratic disorganised and incapable of the steady well-thought-out governance Nigeria requires It reinforces the narrative that critical decisions are made impulsively often prioritizing political expediency over national interest and the rule of law .
The presidency while managing to douse the immediate fire by reversing the clemency for the most egregious cases now faces the lasting challenge of restoring credibility The public demands not just a reaction but a fundamental review of the processes by which high-stakes policy decisions are vetted Ultimately the govt that thinks after it acts tag will linger serving as a constant reminder that leadership requires conviction and foresight not merely correction after the fact .
Dynamic Disclaimer Requirement
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning the political criticism and the reversal of the controversial presidential clemency list Readers should cross-check updates and official statements from the Presidency and other official news outlets for the most current and verified details on the specific individuals and policies referenced .