Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday reacted to the forgiveness message of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying that “forgiveness is oil that lubricates the wheels of continued human interactions.”
Obasanjo had on Sunday said he had forgiven Atiku and other persons perceived to have offended him.
Atiku, in a statement by his media office, welcomed the olive branch extended to him by Obasanjo and urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness in the interest of national unity.
“Forgiveness is divinely inspired and is oil that lubricates the wheels of continued human interactions and engagements,” he said.
He commended Obasanjo “for taking this bold and godly step in the interest of the nation and humanity.”
According to him, the process of national healing and reconciliation should advance to a new level and extend to other citizens of our great nation, who may have had grievances against one another.
He urged politicians to learn from the words of Mahatma Ghandi that “n eye for an eye will make our nation go blind.”
“When I made a similar effort few years ago, it was on the conviction that it would not be beneficial to me before Allah, if I went to the grave with bitterness. Let us forgive one another so that we can team up for national re-birth.”
He maintained that even if one disagreed with Obasanjo, no one would doubt his firm commitment to the unity of the country.
