Every experience, no matter how bad it is, is a learning process. The murder of Miss Deborah was cruel and inhuman but it has offered Nigerians something to learn especially as regards the forth coming 2023 presidential elections and the presidential hopefuls. One of the reasons President Trump lost against Biden in the last American presidential election was the position he took in the murder of George Floyd. That turned African American voters against him.
Consequently, one good thing about the death of Deborah is that it has exposed the real mindset and hidden agenda of those asking Nigerians to vote for them. Over the years, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has presented himself as a bridge builder who will take every part of Nigeria as his constituency. Atiku has in so many occasions tried to convince Nigerians that he is not a religious bigot like Buhari but his action towards the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah has shown who he really was: a lion in sheep’s clothing looking for who to hoodwink and devour.
Few hours after Deborah’s murder, Atiku released a post condemning the action of the killers. The post was letter taken down Atiku upon been threatened by Northern Islamists who warned that they would vote for him. Atiku’s lack of firmness on something that is clearly a moral and criminal offense outraged many Nigerians who feel a man of such feeble character doesn’t have the ability to rule a multi-ethnic and religious country like Nigeria. So far, the back clash has forced him to up some unreasonable excuses.
However, it is clear that greed and desperation for power which has followed Atiku even while he was with Obasanjo is what is in display here. For someone vying for the office of the presidency of this great nation, Nigeria, with so many ethnic and religious groups, issues of broad daylight murder should not be meted with lousy, flabby unnecessary excuses. To make such a detour expressions of his stands within 24hrs over a matter so delicate and sensitive with regards to life, is a valid and clear evidence that his is incapacitated, undisposed, flippantly unfit and disparagingly not worthy for the office he is aspiring for.
The onus then is upon men of goodwill and integrity in this great nation to use the indices and statistics on ground to access the mindsets of most of these presidential candidates to know if actually they are worthy, both religiously and ethnically to lead this country. If these essential qualities are lacking, then such individual shall not be allowed smell the presidency to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
A Call on Men of Goodwill to Oppose Atiku’s Presidency
Religious fanaticism is a chronic and perennial challenge to Nigeria. Since everybody, however faintly or weakly, identifies himself with one kind of religion or the other, religion becomes from this point of view an integral makeup of the Nigerian society. Religious crisis is chronic because of its unfathomability. The current uproar instigated at Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto on the killing of late Miss. Deborah Samuel had stared numerous reactions from different quarters of the country. One among the most fascinated incident that erupts from the ugly event was the media expression of former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar.
The actions displayed by Atiku, one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants over the ongoing crisis have shown his unworthiness to become the president of this country. Atiku, in response to the reason why he withdrew his online post condemning the killing of Late Deborah, stated that “…every tweet on my official social media handles must get my approval before publication”. Recall vividly that Atiku had earlier on condemned the gruesome murder. The post was soon taken down after a backlash against the former president by some Islamic fanatics via social media. According to Atiku “Every tweet has to get my expressed approval but this one didn’t so I asked them to take it down”.
Adjudging the former vice president’s propensity within 48hrs over critical issue of life like the case at hand, proves the fact that Atiku is incapable of ruling a diverse nation as Nigeria. There is therefore the need to critically examine access and pass a satire on this juvenile action of someone preparing to be the president of this country. Our senses should inform us by now that the inner dispositions associated with the quest for power for the office of presidency are far beyond what we perceive at the surface level. What our leaders present before us as their working tools and manifesto during election is far beyond what they have in mind and the manner through which they can plan to execute them. It behooves us then not to sit back and fold our hands allowing this set of unquantifiable humans to grab the mantle of power again come 2023 Presidential General Election. Our inner minds, conscience and participation should be open to make rightful choices which will in turn, benefits all of us.
Atiku is a Total Disappointment
The stand taken by Atiku concerning the obnoxious acts meted to late Deborah was not plausible as long justice, equity and good conscience is concerned. As a public figure with such a high profile and expectations, Atiku fails to apply proper reasoning and work diplomacy in his decision before letting out any expressions, knowing fully well of the enormity of such actions and withdrawal will attract to him and his political ambitions. Atiku as it stands now is a total disappointment. It is obvious that he is vulnerable and cannot rule this country. With such high senses of gullibility, the seat for the office of presidency is not meant for him. A man who doesn’t have a strong will of his own, cannot whatsoever, rule this country and produce the needed result. A man of weak and chameleon character like Atiku cannot achieve anything in a determine way. Again, a man of such religious fanaticism and low moral disposition will never understand what it means to be morally wrong and can never give full attentions to sacredness of life and security. The fact is that, with this incident, Atiku’s real personality has been exposed. He can no longer hide under cosmopolitanism to deceive us. God has exposed Atiku for all of us to see his hidden agenda and mindset.
Moreover, judging from the various offices he had handled in the past, the quest and desperation for power have been the propelling factor that drives Atiku. Atiku is so much desperate, as such can go to any mile, including supporting murder, as long that can get him what he wants. Atiku inability to stand with the truth has testifies to his weakness. Such qualities cannot produce the results Nigerians are anticipating from anyone that will assume the office of presidency; as such we should be extremely meticulous in our choices to avoid hoisting another Buhari or even someone who is worse than him. With this incident lingering everywhere, am sorry, Atiku has lost his chances for presidency again, and will not have it.
I appeal to men of goodwill to coalesce through synergic unison and cooperation to align themselves towards pursuing the essence this time around and not the shadows so that the anticipations of Nigerians towards producing a good leader will be actualized. Also, there is a need that harbingers of moral decorum and adherence of value ethics should arise from all corners of this great nation Nigeria and standout for the truth irrespective of how nefarious, villainous, notorious and inhuman the opposition and response may appear to be. Since Atiku have decided to pander his people and religious doctrine (Sharia law to be precise), let him go on, for he who drags the goat to the market will also enter into market.
