Back then as a kid in
Primary school days during the military junta of self styled “President”
Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, we were excited about the forthcoming elections
that were to usher in a new democracy between two parties nurtured by the
military regime; SDP and NRC. It was the time our teacher told us about the
leading contenders in the election. However, there was a man who stood out; ATIKU ABUBAKAR. What made this man an enigma of some sort? He
was magnanimous enough to step down for Chief MKO Abiola then, when the
pointers actually showed that he might upset the apple cart as he inherited the
Shehu Musa Yar’adua Political machinery then (People’s Democratic Movement
PDM).One can come to the conclusion that this is a man that have the party and
to a large extent the nation at heart.
Enter the year 1998. It was
a time of political alliance after the ban on politics had been lifted by the
General Abdusalami Abubakar Administration. He formed alliances with men of “timbre and caliber” across the
geo-political divide after which he contested for the post of Governor of
Adamawa state and of course he won!. Ex-President Obasanjo in his book MY
WATCH testified that the then party chairman, Chief Solomon Lar wanted
to force Abubakar Rimi on him but somehow, he outsmarted them by going for
Atiku Abubakar. What this means is that there is something peculiar about this
man. He was able to hold all the governors to his side, an attestation as seen
in the PDP
presidential primaries in 2003.
The surprising thing about
this man is his belief in the judiciary system. I have a friend of mine back
then, Gbenga who is always a proud supporter of this man even as he pursued his
case up to the Supreme Court level and always had victory at the end of the
day. Those were the days Shehu Garba was the fiery spokesman who issued out
press statements back then. However, some have opined that he bought the
judiciary over and then I wondered that he must have a huge financial chest to
be able to buy the entire judiciary! How myopic.
Some have put up the
argument that he is too ambitious and that at his age what else is he looking
for. I also look at it from a holistic angle that since it is not a crime for
someone who has been aspiring from 2003 and finally got it in 2015, then it is
not a crime for him as well. Let us look at it very well. He has thriving
businesses all over the country that has provided jobs for lots of Nigerians.
He has never lied that he has only 150 cows neither did he claim to secure a
loan to buy his party’s presidential form. How more trustworthy can such person
be? For someone who has run businesses successfully and his educational
qualification has never been in doubt, I believe it wouldn’t be a bad idea if
he puts his foot forward for the post of a president.
Nigerians are groaning under
the national disaster called APC as it is evident even among the members of the
so called ruling party that hunger is resetting their brains to the factory
mode. We have never had it so bad that while Nigeria has been turned to killing
fields, the Presidency seems to be looking the other way. The value of the
Naira keeps depreciating on a daily basis as there seems not be any hope in
sight even for the ailing power sector. It’s high time we put on our thinking
cap and think of the way forward as Nigerians by looking up to a tested and
trusted personality.
I read Obasanjo’s book, MY WATCH where he vilified the former
Vice President, however the Ex-President has always been known as somebody who
likes to take all glory and credit even for a job being done by others. Alabi
Isama’s Book THE TRAGEDY OF VICTORY
was an expose on his lies in his book MY
COMMAND. Isama was able to give pictorial evidences, maps and coordination
as the civil war started and ended while he (Obasanjo) vilified Isama in his
own book (MY WATCH) where he said
Alabi could be with a woman and tell his superiors that he is on the front
line. A case of somebody pointing a finger at an accused person, while the rest
four fingers are pointed at him.
Let us look at it from the
prism of truth and honesty and not about packaged lies being sold to us the
citizenry like we have in the present day Government. You can only wrestle the truth to the ground;
it will always stand up no matter how long it takes. A lot of events will
unfold in the coming election year which will be interesting as I will advice
Atiku to beware as cheap blackmails will fly in from every direction. However,
those with discerning minds will always know who the true enemies of the nation
are. I believe the great Waziri himself is best fitted for this job as has
shown from his antecedents.
I pray that before the next
year, the Spiritual veil on the faces of few blind supporters of negativity will
be removed. I also pray that they will realize the captivity in which they are
and pray for a successful escape.
Ayorinde D.
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