An Objective Analysis of Atiku Abubakar By Reno Omokri Leadership is all about being decisive, and being decisive quickly and objectively, taking decisions that are in the best interest of majority of those concerned. A good leader must be counted on to make quick rational decisions constantly. I was reminded of these qualities during the Ngige saga in Anambra last July. According to Ngige (see Guardian, July 20th), all that Atiku asked him when he was able to get in touch with him on the phone smuggled in to him was “did you resign, yes or no?”. On being told that Ngige never resigned, Atiku was reported to have immediately phoned the Inspector General of Police, and directed the immediate reinstatement of Ngige as governor of Anambra state. In other words, the Vice President countered the coup against Ngige in an expeditious manner, without sentiments and dillydallying. Note that even the notoriously acerbic Chuba Okadigbo when he visited Anambra described Atiku as the hero of the day. This coming from a man who is challenging the VP’s election in court is the most sincere form of praise. Recently Atiku was criticised by the media for an incident, which happened during the coronation of the new Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu. A press photographer had been assaulted by the security detail of the VP for in their view posing a security threat. But very uncharacteristically for a man in power in Nigeria he showed contrition and remorse right away. Atiku dispatched his Senior Special Asst. Media to the hospital immediately after the photographer was admitted to apologise and offer compensation. Two days after the event, it was announced that the erring policemen were to be disciplined by the IGP. But the most telling sign of the VP’s contrition for that event came in yesterday’s Daily Independent (being the paper whose journalist was assaulted.) It was reported by the Independent yesterday (17/09/03) that Atiku personally approved funds for the training of his security detail on crowd control measures, to ensure that such an incidence never reoccurs. I personally was touched by this act. It shows that not only does Atiku have compassion, he listens to what the people say. He has an ear to the ground. Atiku by virtue of being the VP is the head of the National Council on Privatisation, which supervises among others, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, previously headed by Mallam Nasir El’Rufai (now FCT Minister). Normally, it is expected in Nigeria that the man controlling the place will flood the BPE with request for favours and unmerited employment to relatives and friends, but note what the notorious disciplinarian Mallam El’Rufai said concerning his tenure at the BPE. Said he that the VP never obstructed with his work in any way. This he said on air while fielding reporter’s questions on the ongoing demolition exercise in the FCT. I would not have believed that this was possible had it not come from the notoriously straight talking Mallam Nasir. Pray, what can be said about a man who would act in such a manner? I leave you to reach an objective conclusion. It is noteworthy that since the inauguration of the National Assembly in June 1999 till the present time, there has always been a cordial relationship between Atiku as the Vice President and the Parliamentarians. Not once has any member whether directly or indirectly had a beef with Atiku. No bags of Ghana must go has been attributed to the VP. Indeed Atiku has on more than one occasion played the peacemaker between President Obasanjo and the National Assembly. It can be rightly said that Atiku will make an excellent study in how an executive and legislature should work together. Only last week the National Economic Intelligence Agency (NEIC) revealed figures showing that the economy had performed better since May 1999, than in the ten-year period prior to then. Informed Observers of the Privatisation exercise have been commending Nigerian authorities for the openness and effectiveness of the programme. Included amongst these observers is the IMF representative in Nigeria. Recent comments by Mark Tomlinson of the World Bank, has it that the international community is surprised at the transparency of privatisation in Nigeria. But that is only half the story. What does not get enough mention, is that the economy and most especially the privatisation exercise is under the direct supervision of Atiku. What does this say about Atiku’s managerial abilities? Again, I leave you to draw an objective conclusion. Presidents Mbeki, Bush, and Wade, including Prime Minister Tony Blair have all linked the success of democracy in Africa to the successful transition from one government to another in Nigeria. Everybody applauded when this happened in May, and Nigeria was described as a bastion of stability in Africa. But how did we achieve this stability. Informed Nigerians will recall the drama that played out in January of this year, when seventeen of the 21 PDP governors openly expressed their preference for Atiku as their choice to fly the party’s flag in the April elections. Twice Atiku was reported as being given an ultimatum dump Obasanjo and run or don’t count on our support. When the Chairman of PDP had a meeting with PDP governors at his office, it was also reported that they gave him the same message. A few days to the Presidential Primaries, the BBC carried the news of the three options given by PDP governors to Atiku, none of which included Obasanjo. I now say this with the utmost sincerity. It was as a result of the Grace of God, through the graciousness, and loyalty of Atiku that Obasanjo who was expected to be defeated at the presidential primaries turned out to be the surprise winner. Atiku had been able to persuade the PDP governors to forgive Obasanjo their grudges against him after Obasanjo promised to address their grievances. Such was the case that Atiku suppressed his own progress for the stability of Nigeria and democracy. It will be worthy of note to recount here, that two days before the presidential primaries, Vanguard newspapers carried the story of how a notoriously cunning and trickish former military ruler with a penchant for schemes tried to use certain elements within the PDP and a very large amount of money to turn the tides in favour of Alex Ekwueme. Will I be lying when I say that Atiku displayed unflinching loyalty to Obasanjo when it mattered most? And now reports are indicating that fair weather gap toothed friends from Minna want to capitalise on Obasanjo to return to power. Indeed such people have been known to reap where they have not sown before. I should recount that Atiku fulfilled his pledge he made openly in April 2002 during Obasanjo’s declaration for a second term, when the VP said, “given the choice of contesting for the presidency and winning in 2003, I would rather serve as your deputy”. This even when it was clear that Obasanjo had not then made his mind up on retaining Atiku due to pressures from opportunistic former leaders. I call this loyalty of the highest of the highest order. Since 1999, Atiku has led an initiative started at Arewa House Kaduna, to galvanise Northern governors irrespective of party, tribe and religion to collectively fight the scourge of illiteracy in the North. It may be remembered that he galvanised non-governmental funds from private quarters to stimulate the growth of education in the North. It is also worthy of note that apart from Atiku, only Jubril Aminu has in recent times shown as much dedication to addressing the plight of illiteracy in the North, and today, God has used Atiku to put Aminu in the Senate, where he can continue his fight for the betterment of Nigeria.. A man who has a great love for the South, Atiku in four years as Vice President has visited EVERY state in the south. Remember that he personally galvanised his friends in the private sector to contribute funds for the re-election of Odili of RIvers, Igbinedion of Edo, Ibori of Delta, among others. Will it be a lie to say that many if not all PDP governors owe their re-election to God who used Atiku as an instrument? Not only did he get on with his own governors, but he got on well with the notoriously sectional Alliance for Democracy Governors, culminating in his special relationship with Bola Tinubu, building bridges between North and South with his wife Titi Abubakar from Ekiti state. I do not have to go to maradonic lengths of propagating falsehood and masquerading hype as fact. I can honestly say that Atiku by his actions rather than by his words has shown himself to be a great political organiser, who has loyalty to those whom God has allowed to be over him, while maintaining a firm grasp in economic issues, as well as being a good manager of men and materials. A man who knows how to apologise when he is wrong, and then make amends. A man who LISTENS to others as he does not have a monopoly of knowledge, and above all, a man who has maintained objective leadership in crisis times. I have employed truth devoid of hype led by patriotic zeal for Nigeria to portray one of her brighter sons as he is. Nigerians while we are on the march to 2007, we should be patient, calculating and mature. Not led by media hype of failed has beens who in the words of their sycophants (I quote Wunmi Akintide, who describes one very failed past military leader as being “richer than Nigeria”!). Let us remember the man who proved as far back as 1984 while he was in charge of customs at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport that he was able and willing to step on big toes in order to make Nigeria great. Reno Omokri LLB,BL,LLM(Wolverhampton). |