By Group Captain Sadeeq Garba Shehu (rtd)
Since this post is aimed at members of the National Council of State, among whose members are distinguished elder Statesmen, permit me a moment of reflection. My words may come across as stern, perhaps even irreverent, toward men and women I deeply respect. That , is not my intent. I was raised to honour elders, and our culture teaches reverence for those who have served.
But it also teaches that silence in the face of moral failure is not respect — it is betrayal. The duty of the young (I am not that young though 60) to the old (by providence some of the members are not that old , I am older than some of the governors) , and to the nation, is sometimes to speak the uncomfortable truth that love for country demands.
With that caveat (or even a mea culpa?) out of the way I begin….
It is now clear that many Nigerians – including a serving presidential adviser – have expressed shock and outrage over the inclusion of convicted murderers, a “Black Widow” who only served 5 years, a notorious middle-aged kidnapper, and a military officer (I spit it out) who stole and sold thousands of state weapons to terrorists, among those granted presidential pardon.
Many of these individuals served only a fraction of their sentences. This offends both public morality and global best practices on the prerogative of mercy. In most countries, persons convicted of such violent capital offences are not considered for executive clemency except under the most exceptional and transparent circumstances.
WHO TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS?
Some have placed full blame on the President — rightly noting that the buck stops at his desk. Others argue that the President acted on the recommendations of:
a.The Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy,
b.His principal legal adviser, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and
c. The National Council of State, which endorsed the list.
Defenders of the President point out that the Council of State was involved, implying shared responsibility. But critics counter that the President retains the final power to accept or reject any recommendation.
WHO SAT IN THAT ROOM?
The National Council of State is one of the most powerful advisory bodies in the land. It includes:
a.The sitting President and Vice President
b. All former Presidents and Heads of State
c. All former Chief Justices of Nigeria
d. The Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives
e. All 36 State Governors
f. The current Attorney-General of the Federation.
If such a distinguished assembly could endorse clemency for people whose actions directly or indirectly caused the death of Nigerians, it raises disturbing questions:
1. Among all those who advised the President, was there no single individual with the courage, statesmanship, or moral clarity to tell him the truth?”
2. In American parlance, was there no “adult” in the room?
A NATION WITHOUT GUARDIANS? A NATION OF CHEER LEADERS ?
To be fair , looking at the assemblage of distinguished personalities and Statesmen who form the Council of State (there were notable absentees though not all statutory members attended) perhaps among those who attended, someone did speak up. And was ignored. Conscience clear in that case. Or, perhaps everyone nodded in unison, eager to please…which would be very unfortunate. We may never know for sure, because we were not flies on the wall of that Council chamber. We are not likely to see the minutes of the meeting.
But what is undeniable is this: When the highest advisory organ of the Republic can collectively endorse mercy for convicted murderers, kidnappers, drug barons, and a traitorous officer who armed terrorists, the moral guardrails of statecraft are in peril.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Nations depend not only on laws, but on the character and courage of those who interpret and apply them. If no one around the table is willing to say “Mr. President, this is wrong,” then we are already in dangerous territory.
A republic can survive weak institutions for a time – but not a total absence of men and women of conscience.
If this is what happens in the Council of State, what hope remains for ordinary Nigerians?
“Evil triumphs not only when good men do nothing – but also when good men stay silent in the rooms where it matters most.”
Finally, is it not really ironic, that the most pressing security problems we are facing today include kidnapping, and security personnel who steal and then sell weapons and ammunition to the very groups our security forces are fighting?
I paraphrase Seneca: The duty of the young is to speak to the elders, even when their voice trembles. Also the duty of the young is not only to honour those who came before, but to hold them – and ourselves – accountable for the future of the country we all share.
Group Captain Sadeeq Garba Shehu (rtd) is a Security Sector Reform Consultant
