Introduction to the Controversy
The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to review the presidential pardon list. The party stated that the move reflects institutional strength and commitment to due process rather than emotional or populist pandering.
Background to the Presidential Pardon
The party’s reaction followed criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the reversal as “an act of shame, not wisdom.” Atiku, through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, had accused the Tinubu administration of “lacking foresight and moral consistency” after it revoked the earlier pardon granted to Maryam Sanda and several others.
Criticism and Counter-Criticism
Atiku also questioned the process that led to the initial inclusion of many convicts on the list, demanding transparency from the presidency. Responding in a statement, the APC Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said Atiku’s comment reflected “a cocktail of ignorance, frustration and political bitterness from a camp desperate for attention.” Oladejo urged Atiku’s supporters to “stop weaponising ignorance,” insisting that Tinubu’s leadership is guided by law, due process and national interest.
Defending the President’s Decision
He said, “Unlike the impulsive and uninformed commentary that has become the trademark of the opposition, President Tinubu’s decisions are driven by due process, rule of law and national interest. In advanced democracies, informed review and reconsideration are marks of credible leadership and institutional maturity, not weakness. Only in the shallow corners of the opposition’s imagination does consultation and constitutional refinement translate to a U-turn.” Oladejo further stated that Nigerians were “weary of this infantile, bitterness-driven politics where sound governance decisions are attacked for the sake of noise-making.”
The Case of Maryam Sanda
The Guardian reports that some Nigerians had reacted in anger after Sanda, the woman convicted for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, was named in the initial list, which revealed beneficiaries of President Tinubu’s prerogative of mercy. Sanda, as of now, has spent more than six years in prison. The Guardian further reports that her deceased husband, Bilyaminu Bello, was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Haliru Bello. Bilyaminu was stabbed to death during a heated argument at their home in Maitama, Abuja, on Sunday, November 19, 2017. In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sentenced Sanda to death by hanging after finding her guilty of premeditated murder.
Conclusion
President Tinubu is strengthening institutions, not pandering to emotion or social media theatrics. While responsible leaders build, petty politicians rant. The Lagos APC spokesman urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as “the latest media convulsions from a defeated politician’s corner,” stressing that the president remains focused on governance. President Tinubu will continue to lead with constitutional discipline, courage and clarity of purpose — not the bitterness and confusion that have become hallmarks of those rejected repeatedly at the polls. Nigeria is moving forward, and no amount of political tantrums will change that reality.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Maryam Sanda and why was she in the news?
A: Maryam Sanda is a woman convicted of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, and was initially included in President Tinubu’s pardon list before it was reviewed. - Q: What was the reaction of the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress to the criticism of President Tinubu’s decision?
A: The party defended the president’s decision, stating it reflects institutional strength and commitment to due process. - Q: Who criticized President Tinubu’s initial pardon list and what were their concerns?
A: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the list, accusing the Tinubu administration of lacking foresight and moral consistency, and questioning the process that led to the inclusion of many convicts on the list.
