In our world today, it’s not everyone that understands that looking out for people or being empathetic towards others especially if they are your strong opponents doesn’t mean weakness. Infact, it takes a loving heart to care for others.
To be empathetic means having the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. It is putting yourself in someone else’s position and feeling what they are feeling.
Nowadays, when people see such people with an empathetic spirit they count them as weak fellows.
Looking at the ugly incident that befell the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 12 where he slipped while trying to board the parade vehicle at the venue of the 2024 Democracy Day and how nigerians particularly oppositions reacted to it tells about them.
Shortly after the video of the incident circulated on social media, many Nigerians took turn to mock the president while only a few sympathized with him acknowledging that it could happen to anyone.
Among those that publicly sent their sympathetic message was the Presidential candidate of the labour party(LP), Peter Gregory Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar.
In his heartfelt message, Peter Obi acknowledged that the incident could happen to anyone and urged Nigerians not to make mockery of the moment.
“I was saddened to learn of President Tinubu’s unfortunate fall today. I wish him well. We achieve nothing by gloating about an accident that could well happen to any of us.
“We are all human beings and, while we profoundly disagree on how to move Nigeria forward, we must remember our common human frailty. Let us stay focused on the issues that will lead to a new Nigeria.
“May this moment serve as a poignant reminder of our shared humanity and the need for compassion, empathy, and unity in our pursuit of a brighter future for our great nation.”
From Atiku Abubakar, ”I sincerely sympathise with President Bola Tinubu, @officialABAT, over this unfortunate incident as he was set to review the parade on Democracy Day. I do hope that all is well with him. -AA”
While many saw his message as an act of sympathy, others saw reasons to criticize him for adding the video of the incident to his message.
Meanwhile, Democracy Day is a national public holiday in Nigeria that commemorate the restoration of democracy in 1999, commemorated on 12 June. Until 2018, it was celebrated annually on May 29. It is a tradition that has been held annually, beginning in year 2000. June 12 was formerly known as Abiola Day, celebrated in Lagos and some south western states of Nigeria.
