A human rights activist, Ahmad Isah popularly known as ‘ordinary president’, has apologized for slapping a woman who allegedly assaulted a child.
Isah hosts a programme titled: “Berekete Family” which is aired on Human Rights Radio 101.1 in Abuja and streams online via social media platforms.
The popular programme offers ordinary citizens the opportunity to tell their stories bordering on injustice they have experienced.
The activist had come under severe criticism after a BBC Africa Eye documentary, showed him slapping a lady who was accused of setting her brother’s daughter on fire over an allegation that the little girl is a witch.
Reacting to the backlash during his radio show, Isah begged for forgiveness, stressing that his action was triggered by the level of injury and pain suffered by the humiliated six-year-old girl who was brought to his office.
“I call as somebody that is ashamed of himself. After three months…when they saw that police did not arrest the aunty…they came to me. They brought her in the evening after I have treated 200 cases. When they brought her, she was not remorseful. That was why I slapped her and I am very sorry for what I did.
“I apologised to everybody that I have offended in one way or the other. Please, I’m a human being. I’m bound to make mistakes. I was triggered by the zeal and passion in me. As a human being, even computers tend to malfunction, there is blood flowing in my veins, I tend to get emotional sometimes.
“Whenever I do anything out-of-control on the basis of emotions, I always apologise when I realise it and correct the mistakes. For those disappointed in me, please forgive me. For those I have offended, please find a place in your heart to forgive me. I’m only but a human being.
“I know some people will say that there is nobody that sent him to do human rights work, forgetting that government organisations that are supposed to get justice for ordinary Nigerians are not doing their work,” he said.
KanyiDaily had also reported how a Nigerian mother was accused of brutalizing her teenage daughter after reportedly seeing her with a guy.