“To err is human and to forgive is divine.”

In the case between Nigerians and Ambassador H. Coomassie, the offence seems too grievous to be forgiven or perhaps the apology too disingenuous. The Deputy national coordinator, Buhari’s Campaign Organiser for the North; Ambassador H Coomassie, recently tendered an apology for the grossly insensitive statement he made about the #EndSARS protest.

Watch here:

Watch as Ambassador H Coomassie apologizes for his former comment on #EndSARS protests pic.twitter.com/oJJHXcUsdu

— Naija wants to #EndSARS (@Naija_PR) October 19, 2020

 

When the youths took to the streets to register their grievances over the state of affairs in the nation, the least expected from the political class was empathy. It is rather saddening that the reverse has been the case with their public display of sheer disdain and insensitivity to the people’s plight. 

The height of it all was Ambassador H Coomassie’s video, at the start of the protest, he was seen calling on President Buhari to use lethal force on the peaceful protesters – quite an irony for a peace ambassador, isn’t it?

He said:

“I blame Buhari for not handling the End SARS matter with an iron fist.” 

He added that the president ought to involve the military if the police fail to prove themselves. His statements got Nigerians calling on the United Nations to strip him of his Peace and Social Justice title which was conferred on him by the body. The motion was moved by Aisha Yesufu who had sent out a petition for Nigerians to sign to that effect.

 

Watch video here:

Yo! @UN your peace ambassador – Coomassie is a mess. pic.twitter.com/7KaCNrG30F

— #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria Ra½ O░s░h░a ? ? (@ralph_dee_) October 17, 2020

It’s quite appalling when we hear our leaders make such off-hand remarks about issues as sensitive as youth welfare and national security. It boils down to the fact that there is a disconnect between our political representatives and the plight of the masses as most have no idea what it feels like to be in the position of the average Nigerian today. 

In a recent turn of events, Ambassador Coomassie retracted his previous statement and apologised to the youth for his insensitivity to their plight.

In a video now gone viral on social media, he said: “I am deeply sorry for the utterances I made in those videos. Please, accept my sincere apology. I endorse you fully and wholeheartedly.” 

What could possibly be responsible for his apology? Fear of losing his Ambassadorial status to the UN? Whether or not his apology is genuine, is something we cannot ascertain.  Whether or not he would be forgiven is something that can’t be said either as the hurt still runs deep for many, especially since it’s a time where many young Nigerians have lost their lives in the fight for a better Nigeria.

He don dey feel the heat of the petition against him. Yeye dey smell ?

— Bisi Afolabi (@BeeAid) October 19, 2020

Five lives have been wasted since his stupid statement. Let him go and beg God for forgiveness

— Chukwuemeka Nwosu (@emekanws) October 20, 2020

He said sorry does not mean that he meant it ooo. You won’t say sorry and still be explain to us that you have a right to air your thought. And it’s your own view. Someone done call baba to order

— Mr Who (@frankiziod1) October 20, 2020

We do hope that Coomassie’s show of remorse is genuine enough and will trickle down to the political class at all levels, bringing about the empathy that will cause them to attend to the plight of the people.