Tinubu grants mass clemency to 175 Nigerians including Herbert Macaulay , Mamman Vatsa, Ogoni Nine, and Farouk Lawan.

President Bola Tinubu extends historic pardons to national icons, ex-lawmakers, and long-serving inmates — sparking debate over justice, mercy, and selective forgiveness.

In a landmark exercise of presidential clemency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the pardon of 175 Nigerians, including posthumous exonerations for Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine, alongside amnesty for several living convicts such as former lawmaker Farouk Lawan.

The decision, endorsed by the National Council of State in Abuja, was made public through a State House statement issued on Wednesday by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga.

Among the pardoned historical figures, Herbert Macaulay—Nigeria’s founding nationalist and co-founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)—was posthumously cleared of his 1913 colonial conviction, which barred him from public service. Mamman Vatsa, a poet and general executed in 1986 for alleged treason, also received a symbolic national pardon nearly four decades later.
Equally significant is the posthumous pardon of the Ogoni Nine, led by environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, whose 1995 execution by the military regime sparked global outrage. Their rehabilitation comes with national honours awarded to four other Ogoni elders for their advocacy and sacrifice.

The list of pardoned individuals includes:
Farouk Lawan, convicted for bribery while chairing the House fuel subsidy probe,
Nweke Francis Chibueze, a convicted drug trafficker,
Dr. Nwogu Peters, jailed for fraud,
Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barr. Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, among others.
According to the PACPM’s report, 175 beneficiaries met the criteria of old age, ill health, good conduct, rehabilitation, or remorse during long-term imprisonment.

However, the decision has ignited public debate. Activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the clemency list, accusing President Tinubu of “forgiving political criminals while keeping Mazi Nnamdi Kanu behind bars despite court rulings in his favour.”
Sowore wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Criminals and political thieves are forgiven, celebrated, and rehabilitated, while a man demanding self-determination remains unjustly detained.”
The presidency, however, insists the move aligns with Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to mercy, justice reform, and national healing.

“The Flame May Flicker, But It Must Never Die” — Senate President Akpabio Delivers Stirring Independence Message at 65th Anniversary


In a session that beautifully merged celebration with governance, Senate President Godswill Akpabio delivered an emotional address to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, urging unity, resilience, and a renewed sense of national purpose.

Speaking during plenary at the National Assembly, Akpabio congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all Nigerians on the nation’s milestone, describing independence as a timeless reminder of the sacrifices made by heroes who fought for freedom and self-determination.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since 1960, Akpabio described nation-building as an enduring process rather than a one-time event.

“After we hoisted our flag of freedom 65 years ago, we are reminded that the journey of nationhood is not a sprint but a marathon,” he said.
“It is a relay of faith and sacrifice — one generation handing the torch to the next.”


He encouraged Nigerians to remain steadfast amid present challenges, adding that “the flame may flicker, but it must never be allowed to die.” Akpabio also drew inspiration from the national anthem, reminding the Senate that “the labors of our heroes past” should continue to guide the country toward justice, peace, and prosperity.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s mixed history of “shadow and sunshine,” Akpabio praised the legislature’s role in sustaining democracy and called on lawmakers to work collectively toward governance that truly serves the people.

The session also featured a symbolic moment — the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after a period of medical recovery. Her presence underscored Akpabio’s message of resilience, continuity, and inclusiveness in national leadership.

The Senate President’s message struck a balance between celebration and reflection, highlighting the importance of perseverance and unity in keeping Nigeria’s democratic flame alive.

Primate Ayodele Warns 1999–2007 Governors to Pray for Protection, Predicts Possible Southeast State Name Change

Primate Elijah Ayodele, Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a fresh prophetic warning to Nigeria’s political class, particularly former governors who served between 1999 and 2007.

In his latest message, Ayodele urged these past leaders to pray earnestly for their lives, health, and families, warning that without divine intervention, the nation could lose one or more of them.

“Let all the former governors from 1999 to 2007 pray that we don’t lose any of them,” Ayodele declared. “They must pray for their lives, their health, and their families, so they are not bereaved. None of them should pass away. Let them pray very well.”

The cleric, widely known for his political and national prophecies, stressed that the group remains spiritually vulnerable and in need of protection—especially as Nigeria faces economic hardship, insecurity, and political tension.

Beyond his caution to the former governors, Ayodele also dropped a prophecy concerning the southeastern region of Nigeria. He revealed that one of the states in the zone may attempt to change its name in the near future, a move he suggested could ignite national debates.

“Listen to this: I don’t know which state in the southeast, but one of them wants to change their name,” he said.


Analysts believe such a development could feed into long-standing discussions around identity, restructuring, and self-determination. Some southeastern states have repeatedly expressed feelings of marginalization, and a potential name change could be seen as a symbolic act of cultural or political redefinition.

Ayodele’s words add to his history of controversial but widely followed prophecies. Over the years, he has spoken about elections, governance, insecurity, economic shifts, and international affairs, often sparking debate among Nigerians.

Whether seen as a spiritual warning or a political reflection, his latest prophecy is already fueling fresh conversations about the country’s future.

Sunday Igboho Apologises To Ooni Of Ife, Seeks Support To Clear Watchlist Status

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho), on Saturday formally apologised to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during a reconciliation visit to the Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife.

Before prominent monarchs and chiefs, Igboho prostrated before the Ooni, admitting his past remarks against the monarch were wrong. He thanked the Ooni for privately intervening during his detention in Benin Republic and pleaded for support to clear his security watchlist status and unfreeze his accounts.

Supporting the reconciliation, Yoruba monarchs praised Igboho’s humility and assured him of forgiveness.

The Ooni, in response, embraced Igboho, describing him as a “brilliant and courageous son of Yorubaland” and urged unity among Yoruba people.

The move marks a significant step in mending strained ties and could pave the way for broader dialogue on Yoruba self-determination.

#SundayIgboho #OoniOfIfe #YorubaNation #NigeriaNews

Isese Day: Yoruba Group Alleges External Manipulation of Thrones, Warns Against Undermining Ile-Ife

A Yoruba civil society group, the Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM), has accused traditional rulers, political elites, and religious leaders of betraying Yoruba heritage by allegedly submitting to what it described as an “Afroasiatic imperial order” backed by internal collaborators.

In a statement marking Isese Day 2025, YOREM claimed that the historic rivalry between the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife is being exploited as a smokescreen to weaken Ile-Ife, regarded as the spiritual cradle of the Yoruba.

The group alleged that the humiliation of traditional rulers — such as the Olu Amugbo of Iwo during a coronation — reflected calculated external interference in Yoruba institutions.

“The Alaafin-Ooni rivalry is not a mere palace squabble. It masks a deeper agenda to subordinate Ile-Ife to alien control. What is playing out is spiritual warfare aimed at erasing our divine origin and replacing it with Abrahamic myths,” the statement read.

YOREM further rejected the blanket use of the word “Yoruba”, describing it as a colonial label, insisting that groups such as the Igbomina, Ekiti, Ijesha, Ijebu, Awori, Okun, and Ilaje all trace their roots to Odùduwà and Ile-Ife.

The group also criticized the Tinubu administration, accusing it of ethnic exclusion, voter suppression during the 2023 elections, and authoritarian practices. It condemned the alleged marginalisation of the Igbo in federal appointments, describing the judiciary and INEC as compromised.

YOREM defended rising calls for Biafran self-determination, warning that continued injustice and inequality could lead to wider disintegration.

“You cannot treat a people as second-class citizens and expect loyalty. The demand for Biafra is not treason but resistance to oppression. Unless justice prevails, others will follow,” the group warned.

#IseseDay #YorubaHeritage #IleIfe #Alaafin #Ooni #Nigeria #CulturalIdentity #TraditionalInstitutions #Tinubu #Biafra #Justice