Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don show serious mercy as e pardon 175 people, wey include late nationalist Herbert Macaulay and Maj. Gen. Mamman Jiya Vatsa. This grand gesture happen for one meeting wey National Council of State hold on October 9, 2025, as dem gather for Abuja to dash justice and make sense of Nigeria’s troubled history.
Mamman Vatsa, wey dey known as poet-soldier, wey face death for treason back in 1986, don finally get him posthumous pardon. E dey expected because since 1986, many dey query the fairness of him trial. Dem say the man na no be ordinary person; him dey poet, and e fit write better lines than some people wey carry book for head all dia life (Na so dem sabi make jests for the military).
On top Macaulay matter, na 1913 dem convict am. And e be like say British colonial government wan just show gist, wey wan put am for public office chop pebble. This pardon dey sweet because even if them no fit change wetin don happen, at least dem fit clear boku stigma wey follow am till him die for 1946. E mean say Tinubu fit talk say, ‘My bad, na we sabi dat time.’
Besides dis two heavy names, Tinubu also pardon four former prisoners wey fit go back mix with people like normal human beings. Dem na Farouk Lawan, Anastasia Nwaobia, Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Alanamu. Na dem show say dem dey remorseful, wey fit convince Tinubu say, ‘No be all of us bad, abeg make we try again.’
As if that’s not enough, Tinubu decide say e go free 82 inmates, reduce prison sentences of 65, and turn the death penalty of seven others to life imprisonment. E be like na full package of mercy wey Tinubu dey dish out. Na the advice of Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) make all dis wahala happen. Dem committee review 294 cases, and dem recommend all dis pardons. Na serious work na! They dey operate like Naija’s own justice league.
The committee gather people wey sabi law, correctional services, and even representatives from religious bodies. Dem want make sure say dem criteria no be wahala—old age, health, good behavior, and na only remorseful people dey get chance. Na like this wey we dey see say Nigerian system fit still be better, as long as dem no go jam-make am as e be for hustle.
Overall, Tinubu’s hand dey full as e contribute to national healing. Observers don dey talk say this na moral and political gesture, wey go fit bring people together and reduce prison overcrowding. Time no dey wait for anybody, and Tinubu don show say e ready to lead with mercy. We dey hope say dis level of compassion go continue to evolve for Naija. Maybe one day, we go hear say dem fit pardon even past leaders wey don mess up—we go just dey observe, dey sip our palm wine.
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