Atiku: His Return and the Prospects for the April PollsOf all the emotions that coursed through Nigerians in the days leading to the return of Vice President Atiku Abubakar from his annual leave, the strongest was solidarity. Nigerians were, and still are, extraordinarily on the same side with the VP. He is a man who stood with us against the Evil third term agenda. He is a Man who stood with us against the looting of the treasury, particularly the major national assets by this immoral government in the name of privatization e.g. the NITEL, Steel Company at Ajaokuta, the oil sector the Nicon Hilton Hotel etc… And he is a man who is willing to sacrifice all, for the sake of a just and fair elections in the upcoming polls.
It was therefore with shock and anger that most Nigerians witnessed the action of the presidency in preventing all supporters and in general Nigerians from welcoming their hero – our hero – at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport. It was sad to note that the show of force was an unnecessary power show aimed at preventing the people from expressing their will. No one was allowed into the airport. Not even the media! Stern looking mobile policemen waited. They prevented cars and vehicles from going to and into the airport. This was an act that appeared too atrocious even for the Military regimes. But, Nigerians agree with Atiku, who arrived to a tumultuous welcome at his residence and who declared that “the struggle for a better Nigeria has just begun”.
Fully aware of the risks, Atiku returned home triumphantly determined to see Nigeria rebuild a failed democracy, and rescue us from the deepening morass of Obasanjo’s misrule.
It is not by accident that while Atiku was on Vacation, the world and all those who wish Nigeria well were taking notice of the evil machinations of Obasanjo and his cohorts. The Vice President has successfully forced the administration to back track and eat its words over the alleged vacation of office. The constitution as interpreted by all reasonable observers supports the position of the Vice president, and we know that Obasanjo has always been in a terrible haste to legislate new laws for us when the ones sanctioned by the constitution do not suit his purposes.
Vice President Atiku’s annual leave allowed all those concerned to explore and understand the ramifications of a hasty knee jerk reaction to issues of grave importance, as is the trademark of this government. It has succeeded in putting the judiciary on notice that Nigerians are tired of courts that are too quick to legislate from the bench, rather than interpret the law, as was the case in the past. It has demonstrated to the world at large that there is now an emergent confidence in Nigeria’s courts these days as they establish their independence and render decisions that are fair and just. The annual leave also allowed many Nigerians in the Diaspora to put Vice President Atiku Abubakar to task, and almost all have concluded that it is the position of the Vice President that is right for Nigeria. Support has continued to pour in for the Vice President to continue his fight for the right to contest the elections as a choice and a clear alternative to this government and Obasanjo.
Luckily for us all, the elections will be closely watched throughout Africa and the world. The Vice President, Atiku Abubakar understands that his sacrifice today means that democracy is still worth fighting for, and the dream of a prosperous and stable democracy can happen sooner than the current usurpers of power will want or admit. Vice President Atiku Abubakar is showing all, how political maturity and fair play is an asset sorely lacking in the corridors of this presidency and the PDP.
The Presidency has now been reduced to the clumsy incoherent acts of a confused institution as it rushes it security might to the airport to prevent us from welcoming our favourite son home. The rest of the world started laughing at Obasanjo almost 4 years ago and the comedy and blunders has continued to confound even the most disinterested amongst us. The rescuer is on the horizon and Nigeria will live to see the end of this ‘comical opera’ in Aso rock.
Nigeria and the world remembers vividly how this president and his gang have been able to use whoever it wishes, for the duration it wishes, and then discard the beaten and destroyed souls it expended. Nigeria is littered with people Obasanjo has used, abused, thrown out, and then returned to silence many times. A short list will include names like Bola Ige, Harry Marshall, Senator Chuba Okadigbo, Mr. Dikibo, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Dr (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and many more, too numerous to list here. Today, the Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is the one inside the presidency’s “cross hairs”.
It is also this same government that is now on a brutal campaign to silence all media organizations that disagree with it or exposes its criminal behaviour to the public. This drone of a democracy without debate or opposition in Nigeria is the invention of Obasanjo, but we know that history is inundated with the story of such forgotten demagogues.
Obasanjo is a vindictive human being who is unfit for the office he occupies and Atiku is fighting, for those who have tasted the venomous actions of this government, and for Nigeria in general. The triumphant return of the Vice President has invigorated and united a new and focused opposition and is an emphatic light of hope in a sea of gloom. Nigeria is resistant to dictators no matter their garb.
All Nigerians remember the days when the military repeatedly repressed political opponents and curtailed civil liberties. Obasanjo is now borrowing a page from the script he had used very well in his past. As we now focus on May 29, and the upcoming elections, the need for a successful, fair, and free election cannot be overemphasized. We know where the Vice President stands. We must consequently pledge never to fail in our duty to point out where Obasanjo stands.
The man of the people (Atiku Abubakar) has returned to strive for his rights and ours, for a genuine national reconciliation founded on justice, armed only with a clear conscience and a fortified faith, that in the end, justice will emerge triumphant. Mr. Vice President, Nigeria Stands with YOU!
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