Presidency: Tinubu’s clemency review shows strength, not weakness 

The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s recent review of the clemency and pardon list, describing it as a demonstration of compassion, flexibility, and careful consideration of human circumstances.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, told Arise TV that President Tinubu is not afraid to reverse decisions if he believes an earlier action may have been in error.

“President Tinubu is a man who wakes up in the morning, reads the papers, and tries to understand what people are saying. You do something, you appraise it, and then you make adjustments. That is what he has done in the case of this clemency and others,” Onanuga explained.

The Maryam Sanda case has drawn the most attention among the recent pardons. Convicted for killing her husband, Maryam Sanda’s situation was described by Onanuga as a “crime of passion” that occurred in the heat of an argument. He highlighted her family circumstances, noting that she is a mother of two young daughters, whose welfare needed to be considered.

“Anything can happen between a man and a woman in the heat of an argument,” Onanuga said. “The court found her guilty, but her case was complicated.  I have read something about Islamic jurisprudence, where people said the court ought to have taken into account the welfare of the children, since the father is no longer alive and now the mother is in jail too.”

Onanuga also downplayed claims of widespread public outrage, saying most criticism focused specifically on the Maryam Sanda case, rather than a general backlash against the clemency process.

The Presidency further emphasized that President Tinubu’s actions reflect a philosophy of compassionate governance, balancing legal outcomes with human and social considerations.

“President Tinubu is a compassionate person, and some of his actions show where he is coming from — his own philosophy and perspective,” Onanuga said.