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Before We Crucify Sen. Abbo



The Nigerian media especially the social media hemisphere has been flooded with the alleged beating of a nursing mother by a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Sen. Elisha Abbo. The Senator who represents Adamawa North Senatorial District had come to national limelight after he had trounced Sen. Binta Garba at the February polls.

As I watched the video, I couldn’t help trying to figure why any human being could be driven to the point of hitting a woman who tried to intervene in the matter that maybe did not concern her as the Senator had asked while hitting her. When I read the initial reaction of the Senator that his sister was beaten to pulp and was about giving up the ghost which led to the level of hysteria he displayed at the shop, as a social psychologist I tried to rationalize the situation that may have driven the young Senator to have acted the way he did.

I have also read the statement of apology credited to the senator where he expressly stated how embarrassed he was about the incident that has generated outcry against his person and as a Christian I have been so touched by his apology and I think it is important that Nigerians understand his position and subsequently offer forgiveness to him. One interesting thing which I have appreciated about the conduct of the Senator in offering apology is that it takes a man of humility to beg for forgiveness. It is not everybody that would have gone to the extent of accepting responsibility for his actions and seeking for forgiveness from the victim of his assault, the body of Christ, his political party and the Nigerian Senate.

It behoves on us all to understand his shortcoming and forgive whatever may have happened and also encourage the victim of his assault to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive. After all if there is no offense there won’t be forgiveness.
One other thing which I have found disheartening over the whole issue is the attempt to politicize the whole issue under party divide. It is for this reason that I respect the stance of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in condemning the incident at the first instance and calling for full investigation on the issue. Other notable Nigerians like the PDP Presidential flag bearer Alhaji Atiku Abubakarwho incidentally is from the same state with the Senator have also come out to condemn the attack without impugning party partisanship in the whole matter. This contrast with the hawkish stance of some people from the other end of the party divide that have been calling for brimstone to fall upon the Senator. I understand their attempt to gain political advantage but considering the apology of the Senator, I think it will be important that they understand that as humans we can err.

One good thing I like about the Nigerian people is that we have the capacity to forgive and I believe this case will not be a different one. It is a good thing that reactions to the apology have shown the willingness of the people to forgive and give him a second chance.

To the young Senator, my advice is that he learns from the experience of what has happened and do all he can to avert this ugly scenario in future. He has become very politically exposed and he will be the cynosure of all eyes especially from fiendish politicians who will be lurking to take their pound of flesh from him if the opportunity unfortunately presents itself again.

Wokoma M.N wrote in from Abuja

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