Atiku's Exemplary Doggedness to Democracy, Good Governance

By

Musa Ilallah

 

 

Nigerians, and in fact democrats all over the world now look on to Nigeria’s immediate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the only light  and living example of a true democrat in the African continent. Today, Atiku has been acknowledged to be a shining example and pillar of democracy and all it stands for. He has these last eight years proved that not all Nigerian politicians are self centred, treacherous, vindictive, murderous, 419ners and pen and electoral robbers among others.

 

It is public knowledge that one of the major reasons why Atiku parted ways with his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo was largely because of his undemocratic actions and utterances, serious and unforgivable breaches of the country’s constitution, disregard for the rule of law and fair play and contempt for the judiciary as an independent arm of our democratic system.   

 

No one doubts the fact Atiku has remained the conscience of the nation in as much as our democracy matters. He has exhibited the highest level of patriotism, transparency, nationalism and commitment to the cause of the Nigerian project during the last eight years he served the country as her number two citizen. He was never found wanting except for the political backmail of Baba Iyabo undertaken by his ‘war dogs’and stooges like Ahmadu Ali, Olabode George, el Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Colonel Are, the SSS Director and Ojo Maduekwe among others who use the feud to personalise national assets and millions of Naira of Nigerians money.

 

Undaunted in his march to enthrone democracy and good governance in the country, Atiku remained resolute, focused, forthright and committed to achieving his target with a view to improving the lives of Nigerians. The distractions coming from Obasanjo have not in any way discouraged him from serving his country with all his might. If not for Atiku’s sacrifice and persistent fight against the subterranean moves by Obasanjo to remain in power forever, Nigeria would have today been under the tyrannical rule of Obasanjo. But methinks we are still by proxy under the leadership of Obasanjo.

 

It is no longer news to say that Nigeria’s election last April was flawed. It was not just rigging but that elections were never held in many places but at the end of the day results were declared in favour of PDP and its candidates at various levels particularly Presidential, governorship, national assembly and state assemblies seats. The view of most Nigerians is that votes were merely allocated to some candidates with the ruling party, PDP candidates getting the highest number of votes.

 

The election petition tribunals at various levels are busy now hearing the petitions with a view to redressing the serious and open robbery of peoples mandates at all the levels, particularly the Presidential election where the PDP candidate, Umaru Yar’adua was allocated more than 24 million votes as against more popular candidates like immediate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of Action Congress, AC and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP with  a little above 2 million and 6 million votes respectively.

 

It is every body’s belief, including the number one beneficiary of the robbed mandate, Umaru Yar’adua that the elections were flawed. This therefore informed his decision to state his commitment to reform the electoral process in the country and also his attempt to drag major opposition parties into what he called his government of national unity.  This most people see as an attempt to sweep under the carpet the widely condemned elections conducted by Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu, the Chairman if INEC. The ruling party, PDP and its anointed President for the country have gone all out to make the two leading contenders to the Presidency, Atiku and Buhari to soft pedal in their condemnation of the election and withdraw their separate petitions with the tribunal. They are using all connections, traditional, personal relationships and international contacts to force Atiku particularly to dump his petition and embrace the ‘haram’ government for the ‘peace and unity’ of the country. What a way to manipulate robbed Nigerians in the name of unity and peace.

 

When news broke out finally that Atiku will not withdraw his petition from the elections petition tribunal, Nigerians, particularly his supporters’ spirit was up again. He has recently said that he will continue with his petition at the tribunal and even beyond to ensure that justice is done. In the conviction of Atiku he is not ready to compromise his resolve to challenge the so-called election of Yara’dua for any proposal of a unity government. Atiku is convinced that his case at the tribunal will cause justice to be served, democracy to be strengthened and the right lessons to be learned for the future.

 

I quite agree with former Vice President Atiku when he said that we cannot hope to make any meaningful progress as a nation if we continue to sweep things under the carpet. Victims of the fraudulent elections must be allowed to seek redress through the electoral due process ie with the election petitions tribunals as there cannot be any meaningful reconciliation without any room for peace and justice to take their proper role in the scheme of things. Atku proclaimed “there must be justice for those who have been robbed and cheated”.

 

Most concerned and patriotic Nigerians like Atiku are of the view that there are no short cuts or quick fixes to the crisis over the fraudulent April 14 and 21, 2007 elections. We must learn to respect constitutional provisions in a democracy and run away from tribal, religious or regional sentiments. Only then can we make the desired progress as a nation in search of better lives for the citizens.

 

No one doubts the fact that Atiku as a democrat and firm believer in the rule of law had refused the temptation to call his supporters to the streets to demonstrate the flawed elections but because of his absolute faith and confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the Nigerian judiciary, took his case to the election petition tribunal. Ordinarily, any democrat will have the same feeling Atiku has in this case as it is the surest way to restore our peoples’ confidence in our electoral system and rekindle their hope on democracy. Unless and until one has some hidden sinister motives, this effort must be complimented.  

 

The key aspects of Atiku’s insistence -and many other concerned Nigerians and non Nigerians, on pursuing their grievances with the election petitions tribunals is simply because we must show our people that the road to power is not one of violence, intimidation, ballot stuffing, ballot snatching, declaration of fictitious results and misuse and manipulation of the electoral and security apparatuses to achieve a predetermined selfish desire to be in power at all costs. We must all resolve to fight electoral rigging and violence for our democracy to flourish. We must be unanimous, resolute and committed in this fight.

 

Thank God Atiku;s struggle is not in vain. Even his Action Congress party at its NEC meeting last week rejected the invitation to be part of the government of national unity because the Umaru Yar’adua government is illegitimate. Rather it says it is at one with its Presidential candidate, Atiku in his legal battle to nullify the elections and in its place conduct credible elections under a free and fair atmosphere.

 

Atiku’s commitment to democracy, rule of law and multi party democracy coupled with his resolve not to give up the struggle to entrench genuine democracy in our country is no doubt a booster to all democrats irrespective of their party leanings. Atiku deserves commendation for not aligning with electoral robbers to continue to rule this country by hook or crook.  Atiku’s exemplary doggedness to rule of law, justice, democracy and good governance must be commended, imbibed and emulated by all and sundry.

 

MUSA ILALLAH

KADUNA