The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has explained why he deleted the tweet condemning the murder of a student, Deborah Samuel, by religious extremists in a school in Sokoto, for alleged blasphemy on May 12.
Miss Deborah Yakubu, a second year female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was murdered and burnt by her fellow students who were Muslims for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Mohammed, in a WhatsApp platform on May 12.
Reacting to the incident, Atiku, in a post on his verified twitter handle @Atiku, condemned the murder and called for the arrest of those behind it.
He said in a tweet, “There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice.
“My condolences to her family and friends.”
Some muslims saw the tweet, and condemned Atiku’s position threatening to not vote for him.
Within minutes, Atiku’s post was deleted. Nigerians seeing this, criticized him for deleting the tweet saying he cared more about votes than Nigerian lives.
Speaking at a Channels TV town hall meeting on Sunday, December 11, Atiku explained that he deleted the tweet on Deborah’s killing because it didn’t get the necessary approval from him before it was posted
The PDP presidential flag bearer said he condemned the murder because it was clearly done outside the tenets of Islam
“I condemned it (murder). There is nowhere it is said or there is an injunction in the Islamic faith that you can go and take someone’s life.
“It has to be through due process.”
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