Atiku’s Aide Slams Tinubu Over Reversal of Presidential Pardon

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Phrank Shaibu, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a “reactionary and embarrassing” decision to revoke the presidential pardon earlier granted to some convicted drug traffickers, kidnappers and other serious offenders.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Shaibu accused the administration of lacking vision, moral courage and foresight, saying the reversal only came after widespread public backlash.

“Once again, Nigerians are witnessing a government that doesn’t lead but reacts,” he said. “President Tinubu has withdrawn his own pardon for drug traffickers, kidnappers and hardened criminals only after citizens raised their voices loud enough to jolt him from his moral slumber.”

Shaibu described the President’s move as “an act of shame, not wisdom,” questioning the process that produced the controversial list of pardoned individuals. He demanded clarity on who compiled the list, the criteria used to justify the release of convicted offenders and the role of the Attorney-General of the Federation in the entire exercise.

“This pattern has become too familiar — announce the unthinkable, watch the country erupt, then quickly reverse course as if governance were a game of trial and error,” he said.

According to Shaibu, the presidential pardon should not be treated as a “social experiment” but as a constitutional duty that demands justice, mercy and protection of national interest. He insisted that transparency and accountability were vital if the government was truly committed to restoring public confidence.

“If the President genuinely means well, he should publish the list of all those who were initially slated to benefit from this scandal. Until that happens, this cancellation remains mere damage control — too little, too late,” he added.

The Atiku aide further argued that the controversy revealed deeper flaws in the Tinubu administration, which he accused of running a government “without foresight, empathy or shame.”

Shaibu said the incident reflected a pattern of governance that prioritises political optics over moral leadership, warning that Nigeria’s credibility at home and abroad could suffer if such inconsistencies continue unchecked.