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Atiku: In The Threshold Of History By Ishaq Alhassan Qauranmata
Vice president Atiku Abubakar is indeed man of the moment, especially as regards Nigeria’s match to the coming general elections. Whether you belong to the camp of those hell bent on scuttling his presidential ambition, or to the ‘no Atiku no election’ school, you cannot deny that the vee-pee is the issue of the moment.
So much has been said about the travails of Atiku Abubakar under a vindictive boss that virtually nothing new could be added. Suffice it to say however, that no political office holder in the history of this nation has suffered as much ignominy as has the vice president in the last three years or so. From sacking his aids and lieutenants without notice to harassing all known political associates, the drama grew to the level of a threat to the man’s personal safety occasioned by the removal of his security detail.
In spite of it all however and as things stand today, the Turakin Adamawa has an option to write his name in gold or, if he so chooses, to confine it to the dustbin of history. Contrast the current high profile of the vice president as a champion of democracy with the Turaki’s antecedent, especially during ‘the good old days’ between 1999 and 2003, and you can’t but agree that he is an extremely lucky man.
During their first term in office, Atiku’s profile was at its worst, mainly due to what was seen as his blind loyalty to Obasanjo at the expense of his immediate constituency- the north. The cries of marginalization of the north both in appointments and the citing of projects were either ignored or attracted scathing remarks from the vice president. At one time, Atiku was said to have told the north that he was elected as vice president of the federal republic of Nigeria and not of the north.
However, the most controversial step taken by Atiku Abubakar was his infamous ‘status quo ante’ declaration in the wake of the controversy that followed the introduction of Shari’a legal system by Zamfara state government. Not a few people saw that as akin to political suicide by the vice president, yet he remained unimpressed.
On the national scene, Atiku it was who supervised the massive transfer of our national heritage to few privileged hands via the BPE. He participated in all the meetings at which all the anti people policies of this government were formulated- fuel price increases, massive retrenchments, etc. All this while, Turaki was basking in the euphoria of his ‘unlimited’ powers, while Nigerians groan under the weight of social insecurity, manifested in rising wave of armed robbery, political violence, ritual killings, and ethno-religious violence.. It is not on record that the vice president has ever raised a voice on behalf of the average Nigerian who suffers a lack of virtually every comfort of life- water, light, effective health-care, employment or even the enabling environment to be self employed. When the going was good, Atiku kept mum over the hundreds of thousand Nigerians who either died or became disabled in accidents on Aneni’s (or is it Anini) #300billion roads.
It wasn’t until the president attempted to replace Atiku Abubakar as his running mate, just before the 2003 elections that any form of friction was noticed between them. When, however the idea was dropped by the President, who was said to have realized Atiku’s indispensability to winning the elections, the duo went ahead to unleash on Nigerians the biggest electoral fraud in the nation’s history.
Although both men are guilty of that electoral fraud, most Nigerians believe that Obasanjo had neither the political acumen nor the structure to achieve that feat without the vee-pee. However, Nigerians, in their characteristic magnanimity have not only forgiven the vice president but have actually conferred on him the title of ‘defender of democracy’. This must not be lost on Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku must understand that getting Obasanjo out of Aso rock come may 29th is the single most important ambition of all right thinking Nigerians. The path of honour open to him therefore, is to contribute towards sending the old man back to Otta, whether he is allowed to contest or not. This is not because Nigerians endorse the flagrant disregard for the rule of law or the wanton violations of people’s fundamental rights. But because, having worked closely with Obasanjo, Atiku more than anyone else, knows how vindictive the president can be. He knows the old man’s penchant to violate all constitutional provisions, disregard all counsel, jettison all laws and ignore all conventions in pursuit of vendetta.
Unfortunately, Obasanjo has got nothing to loose in the event of a break down of law and order. In fact Atiku would be playing-out the old man’s script if, in an attempt to enforce his fundamental rights, he helps to create the chaos needed to declare a state of emergency and postpone the elections. Mr. vice must understand that Nigerians have had enough of this government which, in the last eight years offered them so little besides pushing more of their young girls into prostitution, forcing more of their young men into crime, sending more of the senior citizens into early graves and dragging the nation much closer to the precipice.
As observed by Sam Nda-Isaiah, Atiku stands to loose the current support he seems to enjoy from Nigerians if he insists on the “No Atiku, No Elections” slogan since, given the president’s mind set, this is nothing short of a recipe for disaster.
Turaki must heed Nda-Isaiah’s advice and be a little more of a statesman who ‘thinks of the next generation’ and a little less of the politician who ‘thinks of the next elections’. He must join hands with Nigerians to ensure that General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo stands a step behind another Nigerian and salutes, on May 29th, whether that someone is Atiku or not.
Ishaq Alhassan Qauranmata |
