On October 11, 2025, the news hit Nigeria like harmattan breeze — sharp, surprising, and impossible to ignore.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had granted presidential pardons to 175 people.
Among the names were Ken Saro-Wiwa, the late environmental activist from Ogoni land, and Major General Mamman Vatsa, the poet-soldier executed during Babangida’s regime.
It sounded like a good deed — an act of mercy, unity, and forgiveness.
But if you know politics in Nigeria, you already know: nothing happens by accident.
Let’s be real. Tinubu didn’t wake up one morning and say, “Hmm, let me forgive 175 people today.”
This move came two years before the next general election — right when politicians start warming up their engines and repositioning their image.
And when it comes to image, Tinubu knows the game.
He’s not the kind of leader who moves without purpose. Everything he does has a target, a message, and a meaning.
So, what’s the meaning behind these pardons?
Let’s break it down:
Ken Saro-Wiwa wasn’t just an activist. He was a voice — a firebrand who fought for his people in the Niger Delta, demanding justice from the oil giants and the government.
Even though he was killed almost 30 years ago, his name still carries weight.
Mention Saro-Wiwa in the South-South and you’ll see emotion — pride, pain, and unfinished business.
So, when Tinubu pardoned him posthumously, it wasn’t just forgiveness — it was a message to the entire Niger Delta:
“I know your story. I understand your struggle. Let’s move forward together.”
That’s powerful. That’s emotional.
And in politics, emotion is gold.
Every leader wants to be remembered as merciful. It makes them look human, approachable, fatherly.
Tinubu knows this.
Nigeria is tough right now — prices are high, people are frustrated, and trust in leadership is running low. So what better time to remind everyone that he still has a heart?
The pardon announcement gave him that emotional edge — the image of a leader who forgives, who unites, who heals.
And it worked. People started talking differently.
It’s not policy. It’s psychology.
And Tinubu just played it perfectly.
If you look closer, this move touches all sides of Nigeria’s political board.
The North gets the Mamman Vatsa pardon — a gesture toward military loyalty and northern respect.
The South-South gets Saro-Wiwa — a signal of reconciliation.
The rest of the country gets to see a “kind” president, one who forgives and builds bridges.
That’s not coincidence. That’s calculation.
Tinubu isn’t just playing politics; he’s playing chess — thinking five moves ahead while others are still rolling the dice.
Of course, Nigerians aren’t blind.
People on the streets are saying:
“Tinubu no dey do anything without reason.”
“Na 2027 plan be this.”
And honestly, they might be right.
Forgiveness is nice. But in politics, timing is everything.
A mercy move like this, two years before an election, isn’t random — it’s rehearsal.
He’s rewriting his image before the campaign even starts.
While others will come shouting promises, Tinubu will come with memories — “Remember how I forgave Saro-Wiwa? Remember how I united Nigeria?”
And just like that, he’s already two steps ahead.
People don’t vote based on figures.
They vote based on feelings.
That’s why this move matters. Tinubu isn’t trying to win arguments; he’s trying to win hearts.
He’s building emotional equity — the kind of goodwill that makes people forgive his mistakes or overlook his flaws.
He knows Nigerians love a leader who “shows heart.”
So, he’s using compassion as his campaign message — without ever saying it directly.
So, is Tinubu truly trying to heal old wounds?
Maybe yes.
Or maybe it’s part of a bigger picture — a soft launch for 2027.
Either way, it’s working. He’s now being talked about not just as a tough politician but as a man with a forgiving heart.
And that shift in perception could make all the difference when the ballots come out.
Let’s be honest — this is politics, not Sunday school.
Mercy is rarely just mercy.
Tinubu’s pardons might be about forgiveness, but they’re also about foresight.
He’s not just mending the past; he’s setting up the future.
Because in Nigeria, power isn’t won by shouting loudest — it’s won by moving smart and touching hearts.
And that’s exactly what Tinubu just did.
