Our Reporter, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has berated President Bola Tinubu over his recent decision to grant presidential pardons to dozens of convicted drug traffickers and smugglers, describing the move as “pathetic and a national disgrace.”
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the action undermines Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign, encourages criminality, and tarnishes the country’s image before the international community.
According to the statement, the decision amounted to “a most irresponsible abuse of presidential power,” especially as many of the beneficiaries had barely served two years in prison for offences that attract life sentences.
“It amounts to a most irresponsible abuse of the presidential power of prerogative of mercy to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking, smuggling, and related offences, especially when most of these convicts have barely served two years in jail for offences that carry a penalty of life imprisonment,” Abdullahi said.
The party faulted the justification reportedly given by the Presidency that the pardons were granted to convicts who had shown remorse and learned vocational skills while in prison.
“According to official media statements, it appears that all it takes to get presidential clemency for even the worst of crimes in Nigeria, including drug trafficking, gun running, and murder, is to ‘show remorse and learn skills,’” the statement read.
The ADC maintained that presidential clemency should serve a social or corrective purpose and be reserved for cases of miscarriage of justice or convicts who have genuinely paid their debt to society.
Citing statistics, the party noted that Nigeria remains a major transit hub for illicit drugs and faces what it called a “national pandemic of drug use,” with a prevalence rate of 14.4% — almost three times the global average of 5.5%.
The statement further warned that the decision undermines years of hard work and sacrifice by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security operatives battling narcotics and related crimes.
“Granting clemency to individuals convicted under such laws strikes at the very foundation of Nigeria’s legal and moral stance against narcotics and makes a mockery of the gallant efforts of officers fighting the battle against drugs,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC also expressed concern that the mass pardon could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and weaken cooperation with global partners in the fight against drug trafficking.
“They undercut our standing among global partners and give the unfortunate impression that our country, under President Tinubu, has sympathy for drug dealers,” the statement added.
The party further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of eroding public morality and accountability.
“With this mass clemency for drug dealers, President Tinubu and the APC are redefining the standard of morality in our country,” the ADC said.
“They are gradually transforming Nigeria into a nation where anything goes, and where even the worst crimes attract no real punishment.”
The statement reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to “rescue Nigeria from a ruling party that places impunity above accountability.”
