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It is no longer hearsay that Atiku intends to formally declare to contest for the presidency of Nigeria, comes 2007. He would be doing so while celebrating his 60th birthday, and at the same time amidst fighting a political battle of his life- his attempt through judicial means to fight back against the apparent use of state apparatus against him; and his quest to clinch the presidency of Nigeria through legitimate, constitutional and democratic manner, these coupled with vendettas, betrayals, barefaced-backstabbing and insubordination from people he brought to government, but surprisingly the man appear undeterred; Atiku’s resilience may not be unconnected to his birthstone; the man’s birthstone is a Topaz, he was born some six decades ago, on Monday , 25th November 1946, in a remote town of Jada in Adamawa state, from a humble family of local merchants; the Turakin Adamawa, is exactly sixty years old, this Saturday 25th day of November, 2006, and his childhood was full of trials and difficulties ; he was an orphan at the age of eight (8), he completed his primary education at the age of fourteen (14) at Jada primary school, and acquired his secondary education at the age of nineteen (19) from Yola middle school, at the age of twenty-one (21) he started his pursuit for higher education; obtaining Diploma of the Royal society and a Diploma in Law from Kano School of Hygiene and Ahmadu Bello University respectively; this man, accomplished these, through perseverance and hard work, and dogged wholeheartedness to overcame poverty in the then old northern Nigeria. Despite the hurdles and thorny paths of his early days as a young man in the then northern Nigeria, Atiku keeps on striving to be a man, in 1969, he enlisted into the Nigerian Customs and Excise service, where he served for 20 years, retiring in 1989 at the rank of a Deputy Director, his service years in the custom was an embodiment in a class of it own; he exhibited one rich quality- patience. The growing observations and judgments from both his supporters and equally his adversaries as well as political pundits is, Atiku’s status as national figure in Nigerian politics and a factor in 2007 elections has reached a point of no return; but the big questions is, on what platform will Atiku declares his ambition to lead Nigeria? What would it be the political implication of Atiku’s declaration in the present day Nigerian politics? - Where constitutionality, legalism, representative and pluralist democracy, protection of public choice, and entrenchment of independent judiciary are hastily being replaced with arbitrary action by the state, unlimited government power to infringe on citizens rights, and official daylight backing of actions that are in conflict and inconsistent with the 1999 constitution. There are mounting puzzlements among Nigerians, why the presidency and indeed the PDP, always get edgy whenever Atiku’s candidacy is bring up; president Obasanjo has to indulged himself in: arbitrary actions, disregard to courts orders, creating confusion between the rights of individuals with those of state, and outright disrespect to principles of democratic tenets and due process , the PDP had to completely deregistered many of her members, five Governors have to be illegally removed from office, some have their doors knocked by the selective anti graft ‘monster’ and many people have lost their jobs; all these for one motive- to stop this five lettered name, ‘Atiku’ from contesting for the presidency comes April 2007; but as 2007 is fast approaching, Atiku is fast becoming a kind of ‘James Bond 007 ‘ the man is just like a moving truck, and late MKO Abiola once stated: “ only a fool can try to stop a moving truck”. Atiku’s approach to politics can best be describe as full of adventures and puzzles; and his strategies in politics are always beyond the thinking of ordinary politicians; in 1992 he doggedly supported the late MKO Abiola despite MKO’s breached of their gentleman agreement; in 2003 he refused to succumbed to pressure to dump President Obasanjo, despite having all odds in his favour, he won the governorship seat of Adamawa state in 1999, but left the position to contest the presidential slot with Obasanjo, his styles, are audacious. His first taste of politics was when he took part in the radical student union politics of the 60’s, serving as President Emeritus of the Student's Union of the School of Hygiene, Kano, and later as the Assistant Secretary General of the Ahmadu Bello University Students Union, as well as Deputy Speaker of the Students’ parliament. He ventured into national politics in the late 1980s at the advent of the Fourth Republic, when retired General Shehu Musa Yar'adua launched a novel political association, People's Front of Nigeria (PFN), which metamorphosed into today’s People’s Democratic Movement. His adversaries see everything surrounding his political strategy as bamboozling, while his supporters say, his, are unique, his recent stand on the tenure of the present government, was described by his opponents as naked disloyalty, whilst Nigerians called it a sign of a true democrat. Even Atiku’s fuddy-duddy opponents, will, with certainty, admit that, the ultimate measure of a democrat is not where he stands at the moment of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversies, and a true democrat believes that he is bound to have a number of shortcomings and limitations; accepts divergent views; he is broadminded; secular and sees all as one; he is patience and fulfils agreement entered to; believes in dialogue; and his decisions at a critical and defining moment are sound; this man Atiku, has amazingly crossed many intricate difficulties, which many people, if found themselves there, cannot prevail over it, this writer is of the believe, this man, achieved such, due to one reason, he knows no barrier, as late Sultan Of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido pointed out at the occasion of the reception 2000 organized in honour of the vice president on 18th November, 2000 in Kaduna “… Glory be to the Almighty Allah for making us see this day on which honour is being accorded to one of our Illustrious Son and a distinguished Nigerian: Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar. This great son of ours was able to cross the great divide and reached out to other sections of the country socially and politically, thereby practically demonstrating his faith in the unity and the indivisibility of Nigeria”. Atiku’s home is a simple example, his wives, are Nigeria’s picture; Amina Titi, a Yoruba, Princess Hajja, a Fulani, Fati, a Kanuri, and Jamila, an Igbo. Every thing this man does is extraordinary, just like Chief Obafemi Awolowo is known for his consistency in opposing bad governance, Zik in his believe for a united Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello in the welfare of his people, Atiku is truly an aficionado of democratic system, despite his being a politician in Nigeria, he has never participated in any military regime, and this has make him a distinctive example among the Nigerian politicians; and great Nigerians believe so; as Rev. Father Mathew Hassan Kukah once asserted at a reception in honour of the Vice President, held on 18th November 2003, at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna State: “… permit me Mr. Vice President to say that God has placed you where you are today having no godfather, having no father, having no mother, having no brother, having no sister and to that extent it should be evident to all of us that God and God alone is the only Godfather.” And his consistent loyalist Gov. Boni Haruna of Adamawa said : Turaki is a person in whom you see five e’s: Efficiency, Efficacy, Excellence, Ethical and Empathy” while his commissioner of sports and youth Alh. Danjuma Jalo described the VP as someone that is unfailing in his believe in classlessness. Despite the fact that the present day Nigerian political environment is suffocated by president obasanjo’s overbearing posture, pretense, arbitrary actions by the state, disregard to courts orders, creation of confusion between the rights of individuals with those of state, and outright disrespect to principles of democratic tenets, unlimited government power to infringe on citizens rights and tyrants masquerading as democrats; Atiku’s declaration will with certainty be a major political earth – it will lead to more Political maneuvers, political horse-trading, cross carpeting, alignments, realignments and all sorts of political activities, and of course some legs will be wobbling! Wishing vice president Atiku a happy birthday and the best as he declares.
Zayyad I.
Muhammad writes Jimeta
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