Table of Contents
- Primate Ayodele's Statement
- Concerns About Pardoning Criminals
- Nnamdi Kanu's Situation
- Advice for President Tinubu
The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, criticized President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday for his recent decision to pardon several individuals with criminal records.
Some of those pardoned had received death sentences or life imprisonment for serious offenses, including drug trafficking, murder, and human trafficking, among others.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele condemned this action as undermining the efforts of the NDLEA and security personnel who worked to arrest and convict these offenders.
He warned that these individuals would continue to pose problems in the country and exacerbate the existing security challenges.
Primate Ayodele remarked: “Why must he pardon criminals, especially those involved in cocaine trafficking? This undermines the hard work of our security forces who apprehended these offenders. They will keep causing issues in society; they are inherently linked to crime.”
He pointed out that while the president found it easy to pardon these criminals, it is unjust that Nnamdi Kanu remains incarcerated without a sentence for several years.
Ayodele elaborated that if convicted criminals can be easily pardoned, then Nnamdi Kanu, whose case has not reached sentencing, should also be eligible for pardon.
“Now that he has released these individuals, why is Nnamdi Kanu still in detention for so long? If these offenders can be pardoned despite their serious crimes, then Nnamdi Kanu deserves the same treatment,” he stated.
“Release Nnamdi Kanu just as you have pardoned others who have been sentenced to death and life imprisonment. This is fundamentally unjust and could have negative implications for your administration.”
Additionally, Primate Ayodele advised Tinubu to distance himself from poor advisers, as they could jeopardize his prospects.
“Tinubu should eliminate bad advisers, particularly concerning the economy and security. They are failing him and do not have his best interests at heart. He must take a more proactive approach,” he concluded.
