Northern Resistance Cautions Atiku, el-Rufai Over Reckless Comments

*Says Tinubu has recorded great strides

By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna

A pro democracy movement with the commitment to pursue the promotion of openness, good governance and democratic leadership, peace and unity, the Northern Resistance Front has said that its attention has been drawn to “the reckless and unpatriotic” statements credited to both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai over the recent presidential clemency granted to some Nigerian convicted citizens.

The group expressed this in a statement signed by its
Convener, Comrade Salisu Isa, made available on Wednesday October 15, 2025.

“We must observe, that Presidential Clemency is enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. In line with the relevant provisions President Bola Tinubu exercised his constitutionally guaranteed prerogative of mercy based on the recommendation of the committee on the prerogative of mercy, the correctional centres and on the advice of the National Council of State.

“We have watched with consternation the misplaced criticism of PBAT on the discharge of his duties bestowed on him by the constitution of Nigeria. Any failure on his part through any abdication of responsibility can only deny justice to the convicted citizens in custodial centres.

“The of conviction was not only to serve punishment but also for correctional behaviour. Particularly, having certified and satisfied that the beneficiaries of the clemency have exhibited outstanding amount of introspection, remorsefulness, good behaviour and reformation”. The statement observed.

According to the statement titled, “A Season Of Atiku Dancing Naked And El Rufai’s Paranoid”, the group noted that, ” The unbridled attack on PBAT by Atiku Abubakar of PTDF and Jefferson scandal is very unpleasant given stories associated with Atiku name during tenure as Vice President under the Obasanjo government.

“The criticism by Atiku is a cheap political grandstanding by a man whose selfish interest and inordinate ambition knows no decency and morality. Never in the history of Nigeria such alarming degree of power mongering by one man is witnessed,” the group said.

They said that they are not surprised by Atiku’s latest antics, given his most “unpleasant democratic pedigree” .

They argued that the case of betrayal of PDP the party that has done everything for him, including making the Vice President of Nigeria and given him Presidential ticket twice, but destroyed same for his selfish reasons.

“The same Atiku, we regret to observe, had in his trademark, risen to hijack in shameful condemnation, the structures of his new found ‘African Democratic Contraption’ to the detriment of other presidential aspirants in the party. It is a statement of fact that if members of his own are victims of his undemocratic practices, there is no way he can spare from his blackmail and reckless impunity.

“Where was Atiku when a sodomist, one Major Bello Magaji, an ex military police officer, convicted by military court marshall and upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria was granted pardon by the Jonathan administration?” Is the case of sodomy not worst than some other vices given clemency in the present order?

“Indeed, Arewa and Nigeria minus Atiku is a blissful place. What is the noise about clemency to convicts cleared by the Council of State? What is the attraction in the Atiku criticism of PBAT given clemency to those who deserve it? Given that even President Biden granted such gesture to his own son and President Trump granted same to his right wing supporters without witnessing the kind of hue and cry being made by Atiku and his running dogs.

“Atiku remains a pain in the neck for his unfulfilled political dreams, that he still has the audacity to criticize exercise of presidential discretionary powers by PBAT on matter cleared at the Council of State before the final announcement was made is something strange.

“Coincidentally, his cranky voice was so loud in ugly criticism because after his outburst some failed and disgraced politicians reared their scrawny faces on the same matter settled at the Council of State level.

“The case of Nasir el-Rufai is very pathetic on his twilight feeling chaotic that his dwindling political relevance is infinitely tortuous, suffocative and unfilled. Can el-Rufai condemn this kind of gesture if extended to any one of his associates? Why is el-Rufai puritan fury not ashamed of hobnobbing with a reputed of failed bank kingpin?

“The discretion of the PBAT based on the recommendation of the Council State on the clemency cannot be swayed by people sentiment and lacking in moral high ground”. They said.

The group pointed out that Atiku and el-Rufai should not and cannot constitute themselves as alternative Council of State whose discharge of constitutional duty is binding on all parties.

“In fact, the father of late Mohammed Bello, the deceased husband Sandra confessed that he has the ex wife of his late son and specifically requested on the need for the clemency to the extended to her.

“We frown at the campaign of blackmail, of calumny and distraction by the unrepentant undertakers of NITEL/PENTASCOPE lurking around the political atmosphere in their circus of deceit aimed towards confusing Nigerian away from eldorado for all being stirred by President Tinubu.

“The injury el-Rufai inflicted on the common man during his tyrannical era and brutal rule in Kaduna is still in our fresh memory.

“Nigerians must be wary of deceitful politicians masquerading as democrats trying to gain undue advantage, using ethnic religious sentiment for their political experiment,” they warned.

They said that the current administration of Tinubu has recorded great strides towards fulfilling its mandate of providing dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

“The Tinubu reforms and renewed hope agenda are laying a sturdy foundation for a great and prosperous future for our country. We are proud to be associated with such outstanding vision and noble achievement,” they added.