Jonathan, Buhari and Asari-Dokubo’s

Jonathan, Buhari and Asari-Dokubo’s theory 

Jonathan and Buhari

It is not in doubt that President Jonathan holds a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in high esteem despite that they both belong to different political camps. It was based on this respect that the President directed that a statement be issued last week to condemn the attack on the former military leader’s convoy in Kaduna. In the statement, the President also thanked God for sparing Buhari’s life.

As if that was not enough, Jonathan also used the opportunity of the sallah homage paid on him by the Muslim community in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday to make a few comments on the attack. He described Buhari as one of the nation’s leading political figures that have massive supporters, adding that the nation would have been in turmoil if the All Progressives Congress chief was killed during the attack.

Although the statement attracted a resounding applause from majority of his guests, one of them was not in any way impressed. He sat through the brief event held inside the living room of the President’s residence wondering why Jonathan should make such a statement. That man is the leader of Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteers Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo.

A few days later, Asari-Dokubo, who had earlier been reported to have claimed that Buhari planned the attack on his own convoy, also told journalists that he disagreed with the President’s statement during the sallah homage. He wondered why Jonathan would place the life of one Nigerian above the over 80 persons who died in the incident.

“I do not work for Jonathan. What the President said was wrong. The life of Buhari is not more important than 87 people that died in that blast. It is unfortunate that the President made such a statement. I wonder why the President will be promoting one person above other Nigerians. That statement from the President was very unfortunate. I do not have the capacity to tell the President to apologise, but I still insist that he should not have made such a statement,” Asari-Dokubo said of his kinsman, the President. A case of a citizen teaching his President how to talk.