I accept Obasanjo’s forgiveness - Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he has accepted the olive branch extended to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness in the interest of national unity.

Obasanjo had on Sunday said he had forgiven the former vice president and other who have offended him.

Atiku in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja yesterday, said “forgiveness is divinely inspired and is an oil that lubricates the wheels of continued human interactions and engagements.”

The former Vice President commended Obasanjo, his “former boss for taking this bold and godly step in the interest of the nation and humanity.’’

He said 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 and urged politicians to learn from the words of Mahatma Ghandi that an 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 rebirth,’’ Atiku urged Nigerians.

He maintained that even if one disagrees with Obasanjo, no one would doubt his firm commitment to the unity of Nigeria.