Tobias Sylvester
Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad has reacted after human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, called Katsina residents “slaves” for celebrating former President, Muhammad Buhari.
KanyiDaily had reported how Katsina residents trooped out en-mass for the Durbar celebration in honor of Buhari who returned home to Daura after serving eight years as Nigeria’s president.
Sharing the video, Bashir Ahmad, who was the special assistant on Digital Communications to Buhari, wrote, “How to welcome your son after eight years serving the country as its Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“A Durbar celebration is currently holding in Daura in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari, after concluding his two-term tenure.”
Reacting to the video, Inibehe Effiong described the excited crowd as “slaves in love with their chains”, stressing that they are celebrating Buhari despite the killings that took place in Katsina under his leadership.
He wrote, “Slaves in love with their chains. Despite the wanton killings that took place in Katsina and other parts of the country under Buhari, they are celebrating him. Tribalism, ethnicity and religious bigotry has ruined Nigeria.”
Bashir appeared displeased with the use of the term “slaves” and questioned Inibehe about whether he had referred to the people as such, but the lawyer proceeded to provide an explanation for his choice of words.
“You really called them slaves?”Bashir Ahmad asked.
Inibehe Effiong replied ““Slaves” in this context is figurative. There’s no physical chain on their necks. Mental slavery is however real. How do you explain the fact that the same Katsina that was plagued by killings under Buhari still celebrated him?
“Despite the killings we witnessed in Katsina under Buhari, they still gave him ‘heroic’ welcome. Fela sang about suffering and smiling. What does governance mean to the average Nigerian? Why do we celebrate the very people who make our lives miserable? It is shameful!”
KanyiDaily also reported how Muhammadu Buhari was welcomed upon his return to his hometown of Daura in Katsina State, after completing eight years as the President of Nigeria.
