Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has drawn harsh criticism for his condemnation of the killing of Abdulsamad Lawani, a Nigerian living in Germany.
According to reports by WITHIN NIGERIA, Atiku used his Twitter account on Friday to denounce Lawani’s death, which is still under investigation by German authorities.
He wrote:
It is with deep pain that I learnt of the gruesome murder of a young Nigerian in Germany, Abdulsamad Lawani. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends and the Diapora at this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace, -A.A.
It is with deep pain that I learnt of the gruesome murder of a young Nigerian in Germany, Abdulsamad Lawani. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends and the Diaspora at this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace. -AA
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 13, 2023
Following his message, some online commenters criticized the former vice president for exploiting the death of the Nigerian to win sympathy votes, while others brought up Deborah Samuel, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto who was allegedly killed by classmates for blasphemy in May 2022.
See some of the reactions below:
@BerriTuchi wrote: “It never took you time to write a condolences and approve of this tweet for the gentleman. But in Deborah death till date you still never said anything about it. How can we trust this country to you.?”
@AnixEfuape wrote: “Normally if the election is not at the corner you won’t be doing this, to be honest sir…”
@EzimmaduC wrote: “Because he is a northerner..and you play politics of favoritism. what are you saying about the Nigerians that are killed on daily basis in Dubai that you are residing, you have investments all over Dubai but the majority working there are foreigners why do you despise your own people.”
@MaziGomez_ wrote: “What about Debora you religious bigot? Nigerians will never have a bigot as president ever again.”
@S.Kabiru wrote; “Every four year looking for votes empathy. Once you lose now you’ll shut down again like Ajaokuta. May the soul of the faithful departed find repose.”
@Sochi wrote; “What about the gruesome murder of Deborah?? Your account is usually active every for years.”
@AkparawaWilson wrote; “I personally cant take you serious except you bring back the deleted tweet condemning Deborah’s death.”
@Savage God wrote; “Make una dey see hypocrite of the highest order. See…way dey form him care, same man who deleted tweet about the murder of DEBORAH some few months ago. Baba…Nigerians eye don open reach back.”
@JusticeChancel1 wrote: “You are a very annoying HYPOCRITE. Are you saying Deborah Samuel is less Nigerian than Abdulsamad Lawani? Shame on you, illegal immigrant.
“No need engaging your tweets, we’ve heard everything. You’ve cleverly started campaigning for 2037, leaving Okowa to waste Delta money.”