Having watched the video of what Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo, representing Adamawa Northern Senatorial Zone, did by physically assaulting a woman, I become annoyed for the simple fact that I am one of his admirers.
Nevertheless, in spite of this episode and remorse shown by this ambassador of youths in the senate publicly, it is imperative for the woman assaulted and Nigerians to forgive him. Provocation can lead anyone to do unpalatable things. As such, the case of Senator Ishaku Abbo cannot be an exception.
I know him from a distance, but his antecedents towards women never portrayed him as someone that has disdain for the womenfolk. I was reliably informed by someone, who was part of his campaign team, that throughout his campaign for the exalted seat at the senate, he gave preferential treatment to women in his senatorial zone.
It is important to accept his apology and give him a second chance. The people of his constituency equally shared in his apology to the victim as well as condemn his act, which is barbaric and uncivilised. The people of Adamawa State as a whole also condemned what he did to the woman. That is highly unbecoming of a Senator.
To err is human and to forgive is divine. Therefore the victim of the assault has to forgive him for showing remorse over what he did. With all sense of purpose, we need to let the sleeping dog lie in what the young Senator did. Calling for any sanction on him is really not the solution. He has done something wrong and has accepted his guilt as well as apologised publicly. His apology needs to be accepted by those who are aggrieved by his action.
The call by some groups and individuals for the Senator to resign does not hold water as the people of his constituency are solidly behind him.
The traits of a leader are one; he accepts his wrongdoings like what Senator Abbo did. Therefore, the people need to accept the apology he tendered to the woman and one thing is that our religions – Islam and Christianity – have a special place for forgiveness.
This is a great lesson for him.
- By Usman Santuraki
No2 Santuraki close
Leave a Reply