What informs the frequent journeys by Nigeria’s Fourth Republic vice chairman, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to the Ota residence of his former principal, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo? To make sense of such volleys one has to maneuver again into historical past to attach it with the current.
When Sylvester Stallone declared that “the final struggle is on the mountain, you end and go,” an analogous struggle appears to await Atiku and his political profession because the 2027 normal election attracts nearer.
For, come 2027, whether or not he likes it or not – it doesn’t matter what he does – indicators are clear that except he succeeds within the present pursuit of making an attempt to midwife a profitable coalition for the presidential contest, the previous vice chairman would not be a consider political machinations.
To make sure that such ominous risk doesn’t come to cross, the Wazirin Adamawa has been partaking in frantic visits to Obasanjo, who aborted his (Atiku’s) gubernatorial mandate to garland him with the place of presidential operating mate in 1998.
As a younger man whose curiosity in public service propelled him to hunt the presidential ticket six years earlier, Atiku noticed the opening on the Presidency as a veritable shortcut to grasp his presidential ambition. And so, jettisoning the gubernatorial laurel which he received, he tagged on Obasanjo’s agbada tails to change into Nigeria’s vice chairman firstly of the Fourth Republic. With only a step remaining to mount the subsequent saddle as primary, the Adamawa-born former Customs Deputy Director by no means stopped to ponder on the phrases of his prayer companions.
The prayer companions, a few of whom came visiting from throughout nationwide borders, had predicted that the person from Jada would someday be Nigeria’s chief. However the snag was that they didn’t reply the important query surrounding the time issue.
Nonetheless, that yawning hole within the good story didn’t cease the then vice chairman from dreaming fanciful goals of what to do when come involves change into. With that mind set, and reserving the arrogance of his principal – who gave him unfettered entry and use of presidential energy – the primary 4 years of his tenure have been spent on clearing the bottom and planting seeds for eventual transition from quantity two to primary.
However forgetting to play Joseph on the sight of Potiphar, the wonder and attraction of train of political energy inebriated him a lot that he forgot that his principal didn’t hand him over his Presidency. Then there was bother in paradise
Within the home struggle that adopted, Atiku’s principal confirmed the army in him and went so far as making an attempt to bodily bundle the ‘bloody civilian’ vice principal out of his official abode. However it took the courts to remind the previous army head of state that even when he was adept at garrison ways, he ought to comport himself in the very best traditions of civility that democracy recommends.
Nonetheless, Atiku put up an excellent struggle as he acquitted himself like Amalinze the cat. His again didn’t contact the bottom, however he continued to wrestle together with his former principal as he tried to see the achievement of the predictions of his prayer companions and consultants.
Troubled by the spectre of the Ebora of Ewu, the political maestro from Jada migrated to Lagos, the place he was welcomed and honoured with a royal platform to proceed his struggle in opposition to the spirit of the Ebora. However regardless of the good expectations that the perch on the Lagos vessel will ferry him to the Presidency, the yr 2007 ended with out pomp or circumstance. And so, like a stray cat, Atiku discovered the Lagos vessel incommodious and retraced his steps again to the Armada, from the place he set sail.
Believing that the ghost of the Ebora had been exorcised from the Armada, Atiku’s return was emblematic. He had his eyes set on the 2011 campaign, extra so when the ‘viceroy’ had travelled to the land of see him no extra.
At first the coast appeared so clear and indicators have been indicative that the expected ascension to the head of nationwide political energy would come to be. Assured that the auguries have been proper, Atiku used again channels to organise a straw ballot amongst contestants from his nook, believing that by doing so he’ll vanquish the ‘stranger to the throne’.
However moderately than conquer the novice in energy warfare, the newcomer carried the day and progressively grew to become the captain of the armada. Once more, sensing that the armada will not be obtainable for an additional duel within the subsequent battle season of 2015, he traveled to Puerto Rico for a novel vessel that was but to be tried in battle.
Upon his arrival and try to possess the reins of the vessel, Atiku was to find to his chagrin that the virgin vessel was licenced to a different previous soldier within the mould of Ebora. He bided his time, believing that the previous soldier was not lengthy to remain even when the 2015 battle was received. However, very quickly, one other quarterly fencing was afoot.
Troubled by the seeming readability and close to certainty of the prognostications by the holy males, the person from Jada performed the journey man once more. His return to the armada was plaintive. He was approaching a rescue mission. He assured his seamen that he had the magic catapult to shoot down Goliath that has change into a born once more tormentor. All people paid consideration and turned to the marvel boy with an Aladdin lamp. They yielded the armada as soon as once more to him.
Once more, with nice expectations, the 2019 fencing opened. But regardless of the confusion inside the vessel from Puerto Rico and hip wounds on the captain, the armada and its captain was overcome. In contrast to former instances, Atiku remained contained in the armada, believing that fortune will smile on the vessel within the coming seasonal battle.
Because the beagle for the 2023 battle sounded, he noticed one other silver lining within the sky, as the celebs twinkled, presaging a greater outing and profitable denouement of the sensible males’s puzzling prediction. Sadly, the 2023 fencing expedition returned one other poor displaying.
However he remembered how the People used to say that it was not over till it was over. He inspired himself as he readied for an additional warfare. No less than, this another time. In spite of everything, he was impressed by the story of the previous soldier whose exploits have been recorded in a tune: Oni keji, olule, oni keta, olule; o suku! (The primary time, he failed; the second time, he failed; the third time he failed and cried).
Retreating crew males Fairly in contrast to earlier seasons, Atiku has been counting the footsteps of retreating former crew males and deck mates. Whereas these former allies accuse him of inflicting the serial losses, particularly the 2023 championship, he believes {that a} virgin vessel may do the magic in two years’ time.
This burst of optimism spurred the makes an attempt by a few of his estranged former allies like Dr. Umar Ardo to toy with the thought of coupling a neighborhood vessel referred to as the League of Northern Democrats.
However how far the League may go within the approaching league season is left to conjecture. At dwelling, the bottom is shifting, as a result of Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, who ordinarily needs to be on the entrance row seat to supply help, has thrown his weight behind the challengers for the possession of the armada.
Undeterred, the political playmaker has launched into a novel technique of forming coalitions and recruitment of latest supporters, each at his dwelling state and the nationwide stage. And, in a daring effort to confront the ghosts of the 2023 season, Atiku sees his previous principal as a really perfect navigator and salesperson to market the coalition.
Figuring out the spell-binding form of affect that the Ebora of Owu holds over the previous deck mate of Atiku within the 2019 battle, the person from Jada believes that Baba can sway the boy that grew to become man by tasting elders’ meals to acquiesce into queuing behind him for a final struggle on the mountain in 2027.
However as Obi continues to surrender the sentiment contained within the saying that Obi is a boy, the Wazirin Adamawa is aware of that the key of success of an excellent salesman is PSP (Persist, Maintain Strain); so he continues the shuttle diplomacy to Ota and the Presidential Library respectively.
Again dwelling, in a determined bid to make sure that he secures the house entrance; the political maestro paid an uncommon go to to the 2023 Adamawa State model of Queen Amina, Senator Aisha Binani, in her Abuja dwelling. The plot was to make sure that whoever Fintiri might put ahead within the 2027 battle can be simply wrestled to the bottom by “Queen Amina.’
Because the political playmaker prepares the bottom for a greater planting season, he makes himself an excellent instructor. Manifesting neither anguish nor evident misery and even frustration, the person from Jada has change into a examine in perseverance.
That take-not-no-for-an-answer disposition is the stuff of which good political playmakers are manufactured from. Though he didn’t attend the Ibrahim Waziri college of politics with out bitterness, the Waziri in him has disposed him to working with buddies and silent foes alike.
Confronted by hefty challengers at dwelling within the individuals of the Nationwide Safety Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who’s now the APC chief in Adamawa, and Fintiri, whose political curiosity and investments are unfold evenly in direction of the NSA and the rambunctious Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Atiku exudes hope that defies any sense of sure hopelessness.
Nature has blessed Atiku with a stout stature. He can climate the storm, together with dealing with the disappointments and duplicity of allies. Though the realities of the approaching battle appear darkish and ominous, the previous vice chairman seems not fazed.
It’s certainly going to be the final struggle. However amid the apprehensions, the person is at all times blessed with doting supporters and optimistic allies. Like one Abdul-Aziz Na’ibi Abubakar tweeted: “Politics will not be for the weak!”
