(Opinion) Leah Sharibu and the franchisees of a birthday anniversary

By Mohammed Mubarak Alabi
I do not set out to commemorate Leah Sharibu’s 17 birthday (Thursday), nor her third year in captivity with the Boko Haram terrorists.
This has been done by the Africa Independent Television, AIT, in what appeared like a sponsored documentary on her.
Having been opportune to watch the almost one hour program, I do not see what anyone can add to the emotion packed documentary and the manner of presentation, which tended to suggest that Leah was actually handed over to her captors by President muhammadu Buhari and his APC, government.
Except for the comments made by Leah’s parents, and their repeated plea with government to help secure the release of their daughter from captivity, other commentators used the platform to settle what looks like person scores with the President and his government.
Make no mistakes about it, this piece is not meant to speak for the President or, the government on the episode.
Rather, my bit here is to raise issues with the individuals who turned the forum they should have used for the poor girl”s birthday, into a platform to air anti government sentiments, under the pretext of marking a birthday event for Leah.
I will be shocked to learn that the documentary went through editorial screening by the AIT editors and allowed to be aired without removing the offending comments by the likes of Mrs Yesufu, Dr, Mrs, Odumakin and the Reverend gentleman.
The trio literally tore Nigeria and the government to pieces with incendiary comments such as, ‘shame on Nigeria’, etc
The documentary ended up more as a platform for the expression of hate and anger against the person and government of President Buhari.
These actors failed to realize that their action could not have served the interest of Leah and her traumatic parents who’s major concern is how to be reunited as a family
I also couldn’t reconcile with the carelessness of the AIT editors in allowing the airing of such commentary without the fear of being charged with airing seditious materials by the authorities.
Every parent should feel for the hapless girls still in captivity and not just Leah alone.
It may not be out of place to suspect that the Leah Sharibu case is being used by some people as a franchise for material or selfish political interest.
▪ Alabi, an Abuja resident, sent this via WhatsApp