Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent decision to grant presidential pardons to convicted criminals, including those sentenced for drug trafficking, murder, and human trafficking.

In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele described the President’s action as a “waste of the tireless efforts of the NDLEA and other security agencies” that have worked diligently to apprehend and prosecute these offenders.

“Why must he pardon criminals, including cocaine traffickers? It undermines the efforts of these security operatives who have arrested them. These criminals will continue to cause issues in society; you cannot separate them from crime,” the cleric stated.

He expressed concern that such decisions would exacerbate the nation’s security challenges, arguing that many of those released would likely revert to criminal activities.

Primate Ayodele also criticized the federal government for the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He questioned why someone who has not been sentenced remains in custody while convicted criminals are being pardoned.

“Now that these individuals have been released, why is Nnamdi Kanu still in detention after several years? If these people can be pardoned despite their crimes, Nnamdi Kanu should also be released. He should be pardoned just like those who have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment,” he added.

The cleric warned that this move could negatively impact the credibility of President Tinubu’s administration and demoralize security agencies dedicated to fighting crime in Nigeria.

Lagos Reporters will continue to monitor reactions and developments related to the presidential pardon and provide updates as the story unfolds.