ABUJA, Nigeria — Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has defended the president’s decision to revise the controversial list of pardoned convicts, saying the move reflects strength and responsiveness, not indecision.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Onanuga said Tinubu’s reversal shows he is willing to listen to the public and correct mistakes when necessary.
“What Nigerians ought to have seen now is that this president is not one that is afraid to reverse himself if he feels like he’s made some error,” he said.
“He’s a human being. He can make mistakes. He listens to the public.”
The president last week revised the list of beneficiaries under the federal prerogative of mercy — originally approved for 175 persons — after strong public backlash over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Among the most controversial cases was that of Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband, Bilyamin Mohammed Bello.
Following public outrage, the presidency announced that Sanda’s pardon had been withdrawn and her sentence instead commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Onanuga said Nigerians should recognise the president’s willingness to respond to national sentiment.
“This is a president who wakes up in the morning to read all Nigerian newspapers and to watch the TV and knows what’s going on,” he said.
“It’s a matter of strength for you to do something, appraise it and make some adjustments.”
Despite criticisms, the presidential spokesperson noted that some individuals convicted of drug-related offences remain on the revised clemency list, though those deemed high-risk have been removed.
“Most of the criticisms were coming from the case of Maryam Sanda, whom the court found guilty and sentenced to death for killing her husband,” he said.
“As to whether the president freed drug convicts, even the second list contains some drug offenders who were also given clemency.”
The revised pardon list followed a council of state recommendation but sparked widespread debate about transparency, justice, and the limits of executive clemency.
