The presidential pardon granted to 175 beneficiaries, including murderers, dozens of convicted drug traffickers and smugglers, has received criticism from the opposition African Democratic Congress ADC which described the gesture as an unpatriotic forgiveness capable of damaging the nation’s global image.
The party through a statement signed by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi said the president’s action also undermines years of efforts to put an end to drug trafficking in the country.
The opposition party said that by the mass clemency for drug dealers, President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC are redefining the standard of morality in the country, warning that the move undermines Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts, encourages crime, and further tarnishes Nigeria’s image in the eyes of the world.
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ADC reminded the president that the NDLEA and other security agencies had risked lives and limbs to combat the problem, dismantle illicit drug networks, intercept consignments, prosecute offenders, and secure convictions, adding that such pardon may weaken the desire of the agencies to keep fighting.
According to the party, the act can lead to a spike in crimes in Nigeria while most of those pardoned may not be remorseful and can easily engage in more crimes after being freed.
The party said pardons and clemency are granted for social utility and to correct perceived miscarriages of justice, and to convicts who have paid their debts to the society and questioned what Nigeria stands to benefit from giving clemency to convicts serving life sentences who have barely served two years.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
