ColumnsCrime & PunishmentOpinionOPINION: An Open Latter to President on State Pardon Granted to Political Convicts

By Abba Dukawa (Guest Columnist)

Dear Mr. President, with the utmost respect to you and your office, I hope you are well in spite of the recent backlash against your administration’s wrong decisions. I am sure you never forget those that died while trying to catch a glimpse of you in those years;  old men and women who call you Baba, and who despite their old age and weak bodies spent hours under the hot sun to see their votes go to you; and we (Youths) optimistic for spending the night celebrating your victory in the cause some fewer lives. As both old and youths believe their future and that of their children is secured under you.

It is disheartening to let know you that we had a great opportunity for the country to regain its lost glory when we had a change of government in 2015 with unwavering hope that the administration will set an agenda for national rebirth and put the economy on reset. But in the past seven years, the administration has failed to create a basis for improved economic prosperity.

In 2015 the administration came to power through its change mantra with the promise to fight corruption and improve the economy, security, education, and health. 7 years down the line administration has underperformed in these critical areas.

With my clear convictions before,  the administration would right the wrongs committed by the predecessor’s administrations but to utmost surprise to Nigerians, the country is better up under the predecessor’s governments. Nigerians never expected that you would be relentless in your fight against the nation’s treasury parasites – no matter how placed and connected they might be. The fight against all forms of corruption – grand, political, and administrative – in all sectors must be won, against all odds, for the survival of the country.

When the news was broken to the nation that the National Council of State presided by Baba Buhari had endorsed the pardon of Dariye, Nyame, and 157 other convicts.   The decision of the National Council of State came at the wrong timing and it seems the council does not consider corruption in the country has retarded the growth of Nigeria today.

It seems that PMB’s Government has not weighed the implications of the state pardon before the pronouncement as such extra-legal interferences, only encourage political thieves and other opportune public servants to embezzle public treasury and go unpunished.

In an ideal society and a country at large, the essence of punishing people for committing crimes is to serve the criminal just deserts, make restitution to the victims and deter other people from engaging in criminal activities, among others. Nigerians are wondering why the President, was granted such a pardon despite him always saying corruption is affecting Nigeria’s growth.

Corruption in Nigeria has become so cancerous which made the electorates believe the current administration would fight and eradicate corruption unfortunately the administration’s anti-corruption campaign has not fared any better than its predecessors because of a lack of political will to march the fighting with actions.

Certainly,  President Buhari’s decision has violated his oaths of office and allegiance to defend the Constitution. in my humble view, the pardon will nurture and elevate corruption to a fundamental objective and directive principle of State policy. It is so sad and counterproductive in addition to the Moral implications of granting pardons to ex-convicts and serving prisoners.

Granting such a pardon has really tarnished his credibility and his stand on corruption are under the court of public view because crimes are vices that should not be tolerated by any government and it shows that the administration sabotaging its anti-corruption fight with state pardons granted to convicted ex-governors and other.   Whatever the reason for this misdemeanor decision history will not be kind to the administration and its leader for condoning corruption in spite of the fact of his hard earning reputation of being an incorruptible and honest person had been shattered and has become a subject of scrutiny in the court of public opinion.

It is still fresh in the mind of Nigerians when Minister of Information and Culture, Lai  Mohammed dismissed, Transparency International which rated Nigeria very low in its corruption rating by ranking out of 180 countries in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index is a drop of 149 in the 2020 index as Nigeria has dropped five places in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) index, with its current position of 154. Lai had said  President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will not take the rating seriously.

Really the administration proved itself right for not being serious in fighting this cancer by pardoning despite courts with competent jurisdiction convicted them for the crime beyond any reasonable doubt but pardoning them through back door. The recent development had sparked outrage, against the administration with human rights lawyer, Femi Falana and other concerned Nigerians asking Buhari to pardon all thieves in prison.

Let Mr president recalls, nine years ago, ex-President  Jonathan, was under the same hammer over a similar pardon granted to Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, back then, El-Rufai had said it typified the height of insensitivity of Jonathan’s government to the feelings of Nigerians about the war against corruption. Nigerians then accused Jonathan of damaging Nigeria’s image over pardon.

“Nobody said you should eradicate corruption, but don’t go around pardoning convicted people that have been convicted by regular courts for corruption, and then you say you are fighting corruption. You are sending the wrong signal not only to those engaging in corruption but to young people who see that there is a reward in being corrupt. That is what Jonathan is doing. El-Rufai had said.

In my view, GEJ  re-integrated a person who has finished his jail term back into the society while Baba Buhari’s administration pardoned people who are still serving jail terms despite the highest court in the country Supreme Court 2021 dismissing one of the pardoned person’s appeal.

Almighty God knows   I am part of the parcel that voted Baba Buhari 5 times and three times as presidential candidate loser and two times as winner this implies that I am unapologetic ExBuharists.  Let the image-makers of the administration hear this Hausa, saying that: DUK WANDA YA SO KA DA SAFE, AMMA DA RANA YA KI KA TO HAKIKA LAIFIN DAGA GUN KA NE (whosoever likes you in the morning but dislikes you in the afternoon, then definitely the fault is from you).

Don’t know if the president and those who care for him and  Nigerians at large know this is not the best of times in the country’s history, don’t know if care how history will judge Baba Buhari when he vacates office next year. It seems he shouldn’t care about that and even those around him are in the same boat.

Telling the true meaning you will be ready to bear all kinds of insults from administration image-makers.  It is becoming a normal practice for them to disparage and impugn anybody in defense of the principal. They must be guided by high-level moral values and ethics. Yes, they need to defend they principal, but they should do so only on the bases of truth and honesty, and employing circumspection and empathy.

We are with Him and wish the administration to succeed even before opportunity made them what they are today. From a personal integrity point of view before nobody will question his personal commitment to dealing with corruption, but with the recent development,  Buharists,  Ex Buharists, and goodwill Nigerians are worried about how history will portray the administration and its leader for doing similar or worst than what than GMB accused successive administrations in the country for condoning corruption formulations anti-masses policies.   Our is, to tell the truth to the power as Nigeria is greater than any government in power  Nigeria must never remain a limping giant.

Abba Dukawa can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com