In Defends Of Atiku AbubakarByZayyad I. Muhammad
In every real life situation, poles apart opinions and assertions are bound to exist, but a number of opinions expressed by some individuals tend to lead people to astray, different piece wrote by few writers on Atiku Abubakar, a propos to the so called Atiku- Obasanjo feud and the FBI searched on the home of the vice president are virtually skewed, because many used their hearts rather than their heads to speak of the vice president, though in a democracy freedom of expression of opinion is essential, but we need to tell apart between events and individuals, and whilst one wish to write, just for the sake of criticizing, let it be done dispassionately.
Public commentators need to be purposeful and lucid, I am of the believe that democracy can only flourish when diverse views and scrutiny on issues rather than individual do subsist, we are today considerably inclining to a situation, where we accuse others without supportive proofs, we condemn what others have done without proffering the best alternative, and criticize selectively overlooking our past failures; though this is not an attempt at saying society shouldn’t searched-light individual; because it helps in maintaining social order; but it cannot be done through character assassination and libelous statement, the African society is known for it respect to leaders and those in authority.
Sam Nda Isaiah’s piece “when will Atiku resign” in leadership of September 4th and 11th 2005 which some people went on to add their ‘not well thought imagination’ was objective and not derogatory to the person of vice president Atiku Abubakar, uncle Sam was digesting events but some people are just casting aspersion on the person of vice president Atiku Abubakar.
Iheas Idrise rejoinder to Sam’s article, published in leadership of 11th September 2005 was totally a surmise. Iheas had went off track, failing to discussed the main issue, he could have tell the society where Atiku went wrong patterning to his assertion on the terminal date of the president government of Nigeria. Like wise in Babayola Toungo’s piece “ Atiku Abubakar: the chicken coming home to roast” published in leadership of 18th September 2005 and some highly regarded websites like Gamji, Amana and Arewa online, with much respect to Mr. Babayola, he had spoken without the ‘fulako’ in him, as the Fulani man will say; he said: “ at the height of his power, A tiku Abubakar was ready to battle anyone who challenge his hegemony, the first group he battled with were his former comrades in the PDM. He ensured then that none of them was appointed into any high profile political office” every onlooker knows this statement is from top to bottom incorrect, nevertheless Mr. Babayola goes on to contradicts himself by saying “now that Obasanjo has gone through the ranks of all notable PMD bigwigs with a sharp knife to their guts and with no other victim nearby…”
We might not believe and share the same ideology in all matters with others, but our conscience can identified serious issues that are beyond individual; it is outrageous for one to equate or align every serious national issue to one man’s failures or inadequacies, though in life no man can escape making mistakes, as Atiku himself once stated in a speech he delivered during a reception on his honor held at Ahmadu Bello stadium Kaduna on November 18th 2000, “…our attempts to cope with these realities may not have been understand. Too often we take tough decision, in arriving at decision, I usually try to get all the facts and the opinion of my country men as well as counsel of valued friends, associates and advisers… we as human we make mistakes, but what ever mistakes may have been made in the course o f pursuing the responsibilities of leadership must be seen in that context, and no matter the degree of cynicism; some of us have a duty to ensure that the business and duty of government goes on so that genuine needs of the people can be attended”
We are what we repeatedly do; our opinions need not to contradict common sense, the FBI search at the home of the vice president; is clearly after the US senator Jefferson William, but is not an individual matter, as Atiku being a sitting vice president of Nigeria; the vice presidency is an institution, coming to Atiku’s assertion about the terminal date of the present administration, the man have reaffirm to Nigerians, that he is an unswerving and a dogged symbol of genuine democracy, we need to be with him or we are against the people and the constitution of Nigeria.
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes Jimeta, Nigeria |