The All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Network commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for exercising the presidential prerogative of mercy with rare statesmanship, compassion, and courage — a gesture that not only corrects historical injustices but renews faith in Nigeria’s humanity and justice system.
By granting posthumous pardons to Nigerian nationalist Herbert Macaulay, poet-soldier Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and the iconic Ogoni Nine, as well as clemency to 82 inmates nationwide, President Tinubu has once again demonstrated that Renewed Hope is not just a slogan — it is a living philosophy anchored on fairness, forgiveness, and national reconciliation.
This historic act — endorsed by the National Council of State — restores dignity to the memories of patriots whose names had long cried for justice, while also extending mercy to ordinary citizens who have shown remorse and a readiness to rebuild their lives. It is a reaffirmation that President Tinubu leads a government that values both justice and compassion, ensuring that governance remains humane, inclusive, and morally grounded.
The APC Media Network particularly notes the posthumous pardon of Herbert Macaulay, the father of Nigerian nationalism unjustly convicted by colonial authorities; the redemption of Major General Vatsa, whose brilliance as a poet-soldier inspired a generation; and the symbolic absolution of the Ogoni Nine, whose story represents one of Nigeria’s most painful historical chapters. Through this singular act, President Tinubu has reopened the doors of history to forgiveness, unity, and healing.
Furthermore, by commuting death sentences to life imprisonment and reducing prison terms for deserving inmates, the President has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to justice reform, human rights, and rehabilitation — giving hope to the forgotten and restoring trust in the moral conscience of leadership.
The APC Media Network calls on Nigerians to see in this gesture the embodiment of true leadership — one that forgives without forgetting, corrects without condemning, and governs with empathy and purpose.
Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, mercy and justice now walk hand-in-hand toward a future of national renewal, unity, and progress.
Otuekong Iniobong John
Director General
All Progressives Congress Media Network
October 9, 2025