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The Listening President — How Tinubu Turned the Pardon List Backlash into a Benchmark for Leadership
The Listening President ️ — How Tinubu Turned the Pardon List Backlash into a Benchmark for Leadership
There is a moment in every democracy when a leader faces a mirror: hears the anger, reads the headlines, senses the churn. That moment is not always comfortable. But when a leader listens — when he recalibrates in sight of public sentiment — it becomes a moment of hope. That is exactly what we saw when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reconsidered his earlier pardon list and acted on the backlash.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Let’s be frank — the very essence of a presidential pardon involves criminals. You can’t pardon saints. These are men and women who, at one point, broke the law and faced justice. So, naturally, any such list will feature individuals convicted of serious offences. And here’s the truth many overlook: nobody appears on that list by accident. It is usually those who have someone — a religious body, community leader, traditional ruler, political ally or advocacy group — fighting for their clemency that get heard. Mercy petitions are rarely spontaneous; they are lobbied, documented, and defended. Some come through institutional recommendations, others through humanitarian pleas, and a few through political channels. That is the complex reality behind every “pardon list.”
So when the earlier list of 175 names was released — featuring people convicted of crimes like kidnapping, trafficking, and unlawful possession of arms — Nigerians naturally cried out. The optics were bad. The process seemed opaque. Questions filled the air: Who prepared this? What criteria were used? The outrage was legitimate — because mercy must not mock justice.
And then came the turnaround.
Instead of brushing off public anger or hiding behind bureaucracy, Tinubu’s administration did something remarkable: it listened. The Presidency recalled the list, reviewed it through the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, and released a refined version with the most controversial names struck out. Even more, oversight was tightened — moving the process squarely under the Ministry of Justice to prevent future excesses.
That single act of correction is not weakness — it’s responsiveness.
Leadership is not about pretending to be flawless; it’s about being flexible enough to improve. For Tinubu to revisit a sensitive decision under public pressure shows empathy, maturity, and a deep understanding of democratic accountability.
Let’s remember: the power of pardon under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution doesn’t operate in isolation. The president acts based on layered recommendations — from committees, the Ministry of Justice, and sometimes the Council of State. Meaning, some names slip in through multiple hands before reaching the Villa. But what matters most is not how errors enter the system; it’s how leadership responds when they’re revealed.
By trimming the list and removing those whose crimes carry heavy social and security implications, the president signalled that mercy should be tempered with wisdom. It was a balance between justice and compassion — and that balance is the essence of governance.
In truth, this is what Nigerians should focus on: not just the outrage that forced the correction, but the humility that allowed it. Every democracy thrives when leaders can hear the pulse of the people — and adjust their stride. It’s not common in our political space for a president to publicly amend a decision after criticism; that act alone deserves recognition.
Of course, cynics will still scoff — calling it “damage control.” But even if it is, isn’t accountable damage control far better than stubborn indifference? Would we rather have leaders who never correct themselves?
So, yes, we must always hold our leaders accountable, but we must also give credit where it’s due. Tinubu’s reconsideration of the pardon list is not merely a procedural tweak — it’s a reminder that power can still listen.
Because when leadership listens, democracy breathes.
When people speak, and government adjusts — hope survives.
And that, right there, is the heartbeat of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah
Bush Radio Academy, inspired by Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, is a grassroots-driven institution focused on empowering individuals through storytelling, citizen journalism, and innovative communication tools to amplify overlooked voices.
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has identified what he described as the biggest political mistake made by African Democratic Congress (ADC)....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okechukwu argued that Atiku’s biggest political error was allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to secure a second term in office.
Atiku, who served as Obasanjo’s deputy, had reportedly nursed a presidential ambition ahead of the 2003 general election but eventually abandoned the plan to allow the former president to seek re-election.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu highlighted some of what he considered political missteps in Atiku’s quest to become Nigeria’s president.
He said, “Atiku’s third unforced political error appeared to mirror his first in 2003, when he hurried into a presidential ambition rather than exercising patience in the established political tradition of the Fulani I know, by allowing President Olusegun Obasanjo to complete his constitutionally permitted second term.
“The second unforced error was when His Excellency breached Section 7 of the PDP Constitution and the subsisting rotation convention between North and South in 2023.”
The APC chieftain maintained that the ongoing crisis within the ADC offered another lesson on the importance of patience and strategic political engagement.
He argued that effective political strategy goes beyond assembling a political team, stressing the importance of timing, respect for the rule of law, established conventions and conflict management.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said the factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, has damaged the widely promoted image of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as a master political strategist.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okechukwu made the remark following revelations that Atiku had not contacted Bala amid the leadership crisis rocking the ADC.
Speaking with BBC Radio, Bala disclosed that despite the political crisis within the party, Atiku had never held a meeting with him.
“Atiku hasn’t contacted me even though he comes from my area. I went to court with just the constitution,” Bala said.
He added, “I said to everyone that if they had followed the correct steps, the court would have decided in their favour.
“But if we are correct, then we deserve our rights.”
Reacting to the development while addressing journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu argued that Bala’s revelation had undermined Atiku’s reputation as a skilled political strategist.
According to the APC chieftain, Atiku should have considered it important to privately engage Bala, particularly given their shared political background and family ties.
He said: “You would think that a politician who is always praised by his supporters as a skilled strategist would have seen it as very important to talk to Gombe privately, especially since they share the same local political background and family history.
“It seems strange that Atiku didn’t take such a simple political step, especially when the ADC crisis kept going on, which makes people wonder about the real skill of the so-called master strategist.”
Thousands of supporters took to the streets of Potiskum on Sunday as the campaign motorcade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, passed through the town, attracting a large crowd of men, women and youths.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
REPHRASE THIS……The Network of Civil Society Groups has announced plans to identify and publicly promote credible candidates across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to prioritise individual competence and integrity over party affiliation.
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The group said the initiative would provide voters with information about contestants whose records, leadership qualities and policy proposals demonstrate commitment to democratic values, inclusive representation and public accountability.
In a press statement signed on behalf of the network by Emmanuel Olowu Aiyedun, titled “2027: Supporting Persons, Not Parties; Advancing Democratic Pluralism, Inclusive Representation and Accountability,” the organisation said it aims to encourage issue-based electoral choices, political diversity and effective representation at the federal, state and local government levels.
“The initiative is necessary as Nigerians continue to grapple with economic difficulties, rising living costs and challenges in accessing affordable food, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities.”
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The organisation stated that citizens should evaluate political aspirants based on their personal records, integrity, competence, leadership experience, public conduct and proposed policies rather than their political parties.
It warned against blind political loyalty, noting that religious sentiments, ethnic affiliations, financial inducements and longstanding party attachment should not determine electoral decisions.
According to the statement, “While political parties remain important democratic institutions, party affiliation should not replace individual credibility, integrity, character, competence and a demonstrable record of public service.”
“We maintain that allowing candidates from different political parties and ideological backgrounds to participate in governance would strengthen democratic institutions, encourage constructive debates and promote checks and balances.”
As part of its planned activities, the organisation said it would organise civic education programmes, public engagements and discussions to enable voters to examine candidates’ backgrounds, policy proposals and commitments to public service.
It added that selected contestants from different political parties would be featured through candidate engagements, public interviews, policy discussions and media outreach to give Nigerians access to information about their leadership capacity and proposed contributions to governance.
The Network also called on political parties, aspirants, civil society organisations and the media to promote issue-based campaigns.
While urging Nigerians to reject vote-buying, ethnic divisions, religious manipulation and other forms of electoral inducement, it stressed the need for the 2027 elections to produce effective representation and accountable leadership responsive to citizens’ needs.
The Network of Civil Society Groups has unveiled plans to identify and publicly promote credible candidates across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to consider individual competence and integrity rather than party affiliation when choosing their leaders.
The organisation said the initiative would provide voters with information about candidates whose track records, leadership abilities and policy proposals reflect a commitment to democratic values, inclusive representation and public accountability.
In a press statement signed by Emmanuel Olowu Aiyedun on behalf of the network, titled “2027: Supporting Persons, Not Parties; Advancing Democratic Pluralism, Inclusive Representation and Accountability,” the group said the initiative was designed to promote issue-based voting, political diversity and effective representation at the federal, state and local government levels.
It noted that the initiative had become necessary as Nigerians continued to face economic challenges, rising living costs and difficulties accessing affordable food, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
The organisation urged citizens to assess political aspirants based on their personal records, integrity, competence, leadership experience, public conduct and proposed policies rather than the parties they represent.
It also cautioned against blind political loyalty, stressing that religious sentiments, ethnic affiliations, financial inducements and longstanding attachment to political parties should not influence electoral decisions.
“While political parties remain important democratic institutions, party affiliation should not replace individual credibility, integrity, character, competence and a demonstrable record of public service,” the statement read.
The network further argued that allowing candidates from different political parties and ideological backgrounds to participate in governance would strengthen democratic institutions, encourage constructive debates and promote checks and balances.
As part of its planned activities, the organisation said it would organise civic education programmes, public engagements and discussions to help voters examine candidates’ backgrounds, policy proposals and commitment to public service.
It added that selected candidates from different political parties would be featured through public engagements, interviews, policy discussions and media outreach to give Nigerians more information about their leadership capacity and proposed contributions to governance.
The Network also called on political parties, aspirants, civil society organisations and media outlets to promote issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections.
It urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying, ethnic divisions, religious manipulation and other forms of electoral inducement, emphasising the need for the 2027 elections to produce effective representation and accountable leadership that responds to citizens’ needs.
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