Nigerians Lambast Jonathan Over His Visit To Kano State
A top lawyer, Festus Keyamo shared his opinion saying “It is very insensitive and irresponsible.”
While speaking on the tears President Jonathan shed on Monday after his visit to the blast scene said:
“It is just pretence, nothing but pretence. We ought to declare clear seven days of mourning for those victims. No political activities should take place with those seven days.”
President Jonathan during his visit to Kano state
The chairman Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran also condemned President Jonathan's action saying: “That is a sign that the government does not value the lives of Nigerians. As a matter of fact it is confirmation that the present system actually enjoys the pogrom that is going on in that part of the country. It is very condemnable that the president could not even declare a day of national mourning after we have lost about 200 lives.”
“The president is not thoughtful; the president seems to be sadistic, enjoying the show of bloodletting. Our president doesn’t care. You know he said the other time that he doesn’t give a damn. He doesn’t give a damn whatever Nigerians say, he doesn’t give a damn about our feelings of agony, he doesn’t give a damn about those who are suffering the pains and pangs of the carnage going on in some parts of the country.”
Debo Adeniran speaking on the tears shed by the President on Monday at the scene said :
“It was crocodile tears he shed. He visited just because it happened in Abuja close to Asokoro. He wouldn’t have visited; he didn’t visit Maiduguri, he didn’t visit several other sites of pogrom. He only managed to make out time for that because he was in Abuja when that happened. It wasn’t that he was concerned about the lives and properties damaged.”
President Jonathan during his visit to Kano state
According to an activist lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, the president's action could make him loose his job in other countries.
He said: “It is plain insensitive, really. It an evident that the leadership of this country does not take our lives seriously at all.”
“Over 200 people were killed by Boko Haram insurgents. Less than 24 hours later, the president was in Kano on political mission. That tells you they don’t take us seriously and our lives don’t count for much. That is the height of insensitivity I have seen in recent times.”
“He wouldn’t have lost anything if he had postponed the campaign for another one or two months and let the people who are bereaved come to terms with the gruesome reality,” he added.
President Jonathan during his visit to Kan state
“Our people need to understand that there is a big disconnect between them and the people that leads them who only require them to vote to be in power.”
He said the president’s action, if done in other countries, could have cost him his job.
“This kind of things would not happen elsewhere. In other countries the president can even be impeached for what he has done. It is terrible. For him to embark on that trip show clearly that for him politics is more important than the lives of Nigerians.”
Aturu speaking on the tears the President shed at the scene said: “Politicians can playact. You know in Nigeria there are people that are paid to weep at funerals ceremonies. What he has done clearly shows that he didn’t believe what he was doing.
“If he was weeping just yesterday and now he’s in Kano doing politics when people are yet to come to terms with what happened. All they want is power that’s the impression they are giving unfortunately.”
President Jonathan during his visit to Kano state
“Let’s face it, is it even proper, as a father, for the president to be dancing at a rally and clinking glasses at a chief’s party just the day after?” said Betty Abah, journalist and activist. “What really would happen if he sends representatives while he pretends he’s meeting security chiefs? Even if he doesn’t care, is this even good for his image? What message is he sending out? He did same during the Centenary celebrations. How do you explain this crass insensitivity?”
President Jonathan during his visit to Kano state
Sources: Naij.com news, Premium Times
