2015: Why Atiku deserves our attention

Earlier in the day (24/9/14) the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar made a formal declaration of his ambition to run as a candidate for the highest office of the Land. I was one of those who was overwhelmed by the concept of the whole event.

Nigeria Newsdesk (@NigeriaNewsdesk)  led me to the livestreaming of the event. While the event progressed, the twitterspace as usual was flooded with pro and anti support tweets. I rendered my humble opinions concerning the style and Strategy of the event which some twitter acquaintances attacked almost endlessly.  One even by his tweet assumed I was being deceived by the whole razzmatazz. Such commentaries move me less for they depict guesses farther from the truth.

However, in a private chat with a colleague- one I respect so much- I saw how some brewing resentments could raise more cognitive dissonance to the fragile reputation of the Turaki Adamawa. Thus, for morality sake I was propelled to write this piece. Since Atiku cannot go back to years behind to rewrite or undo the past some of us ,out of magnanimity , can give encouragement to his noble course. There can't be an entirely bad product, remember? Some things are simply relative. Iwaju to Ko si e ehin ni fun elomi . Hence, this may just take the form of a consumer testimonial.

First, I don’t agree that Atiku is becoming overzealous for signalling interest to run for president. It is an intrinsic nature of man to strive for more greatness provided it doesn't disrupt the way of nature. Besides, he sees himself qualified to make Nigeria greater. He has been in the corridors of power before, he's therefore no learner in politics and governance. He may just be the one to set us on that dream path. Who knows? Morever, his ambition only adds beauty to the contest. Healthy Competition only improves Value.

More so, Atiku Abubakar is too liberal to be a bigot. He married a Yoruba woman as first wife and has large  friends and associates of different tribes and faith all across the country. Perhaps his long public service life contributes to this nature but he can't be one who can nurse or habour negative tribalism. I doubt it based on those premises


If you have been monitoring presidential hopefuls the past few months and their performances you would agree that Atiku glides as one with the best team(maybe for now). The PR is superb! Atiku knows when to talk, when to write and what to say. I give credit to his team and I give him credit more for gathering the best focus group. May be other Aspirants would borrow a leaf is another question. Nigeria deserves the best in whatever we do. Let's make this Presidential colourful.

One word of advice to the Turaki once again is to be gracious in goodwill to take whatever is the outcomes of the Presidential Primary of his Party. Politics at the peak, most times, is not all about winning because the winner and the runner up will both end up as historical materials in the museum of time. Then how we handled everything will matter most. That is why Awo still possesses more cult followership in death than most of his contemporaries and successors.

Thus, I wish that Atiku uses this few weeks to purge out all the uncomfortable perceptions that some people have built around his figure. Whether there's victory at the primaries or not, Turaki should see it as a win-win for his reputation.

Best of Luck, Turaki Adamawa.


*Showunmi Rex is the Senior Editor @ DeltaForte Magazine ; Contributing Editor @ Hype9ja Ent. & www.yekipedia.blogspot.com Twitter Handle: @remirex.

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Lagos 2015: APC' s Succession Story -- Between The Chosen, The Special and The Hungry One

Every so often we come to the crossroads of Destiny when and where the importance of a decision so urgent,  so crucial becomes so inevitable.  All of our life, it would seem, is reduced to the result of that very decision.  In most cases such issues are as fundamental as who takes over the mantle of leadership. There is a popular adage which says Success without a successor is failure. May be we can add that any leadership feat that has not transferred from one entity to the next isn't matured enough to be tagged Success.  Leadership question can make a Phenomenal person  lose sleep countless times and weaken his drive to achieve more. Who takes over from here?  The unknown, the becoming is such dreadful experience. It is well illustrated in the story of a man who has built a business empire but doubts the capacity of his first son or any of his children to step into his shoes. Paradoxically,  it seems that the assurance of a subsequent custodian is as crucial as every successes won and aspired.

This is a political writing and it is going somewhere.  It is a reflection of what is to come (or befall) Lagos in a couple of months. When you drive through the Lekki Suspension Bridge by night or you walk past the Ikeja Shoprite axis at late night, knowing what used to be the case before this administration then you would ponder on what next after this man leaves office?

Are we going back to the old style of Governance where anything goes or we are set on this developmental path for almost forever? Would there be continuity or what? If yes, at what pace?

 That question would be answered very soon. Not in this essay but in the activities of all stakeholders including Political parties and the electorate.

As it stands , there are two major political parties in Nigeria today and one of them is likely to give us the next Chief Executive come 2015.  Talking of the major opposition party in Lagos there is not much to say for now. Nevertheless, because the party's fortune would much depend on who becomes the standard bearer we can wait for such outcomes to see if there's hope for eventual surprises.  For now, for this state , Lagos , the Incumbent party's primary is the Election.


APC Primary School , Lagos.

In the eventuality of adherence to the  standing order, aspirants & supporters need to brace up for a Primary election. Hence, barring all unforseen circumstances there are three frontline contestant for the Party's nomination ; The Chosen One, The Special, and The Hungry One.


The Special One

The man who currently holds a sensitive position in the current cabinet is gathering support and hope from the party loyalists as time ticks closer. He is special because of the big barrier hanging over his nomination. He seems to make history as a non-indigene of a state but gathering strategic forces that may eventually lead to clinching the highest position in the state. Anybody conversant with how things work in Nigeria would admit that even State Civil Service leadership like Permanent Secretaries and others are rarely ceded to non-indigenes of the state let alone the Chief Executive of a State. But rules and records are made to be broken. This may be that special case.

He is Special also because he enjoys, allegedly, the maximum support of the sitting Chief Executive. The number one man it seems is saying subliminally; "my spirit is upon him".Like the biblical Moses and Joshua endorsement.

Moreover,  to have the structure of a father to bank on is no small advantage. But what do we say about the 'institutional' jinx to be broken? The First Royalty of the state already made a statement, one that could fan the flames of unusual resentment towards this Cause.

Also, Strategically, the fronting of the Special One by the Chief executive may just be a negotiating tool for private gains. Horse-trading is a regular tool in politicking and this one may not be an exception. The Senate, or even a Vice Presidential slot may be a good bargain for the Chief Executive.  If such isn't feasible, other very important slots can serve a good compensation. At both ways, the Chief would still walk home happy.


The Chosen One

Shakespeare's definition of Leadership highlights three possible ways to greatness. One of which is having leadership thrusted on your laps. No matter how we put it, the Chosen man is the man to beat. Although he enters this race as an underdog and would remain as such till the contest is over for so many reasons. What else do you call a man making a first appearance into active, partisan politics as a Governorship aspirant? Indeed winning promises to be pyrrhic.  It would be a highly challenging endeavour, the one likely to choke the aspirant and sap energy. But there are enough 'shock-absorbers' for this man. The first and biggest endorsement came from the First King of the State and that's a statement loud enough to be understood.

The Chosen one's records as a selfless servant is a good leverage even though politics is a wielding  game. In most cases, irrespective of who stands behind you what you educe matters more. It is all about you- your charm, your charisma, your grace. All the attestations & endorsements already opens up the compound pressure of living up to expectations. When much is given much is expected. There's much work to be done but the good thing is it won't be without the support of the Captains of the Party, the main men whose attention he already got.

There's one important thing to hammer on and it is that there is no done deal in politics. This man of the moment must try as much as possible to ease the pressure of those who already declared support for his candidature. The need to be reminded often, by action , that they made the right choice thrusting him forward. His mettle will be tested with fire like a furnace to gold and it would only make him better.

Although on being an underdog in this race, many supporters of the man have likened it to how it first happened some Seven years ago when an underdog ,now his excellency, clinched the party nomination. But few points must be considered.As a chief of staff, one isn’t an outsider,  kind of, in the polity. In fact, the powers of the chief executive is put to optimal use through the arm of the CoS. What does this suggests? That the antecedents aren't purely the same.

The is more work to be done. There are many challenges but they are not insurmountable. The times have changed and the circumstances partially different. But there's always courage of the possibility looking back to the past to inspire the future.

However, there are hungry hawks around waiting to feast on the chicks. How prepared is the mother hen? We shall soon find out when we discuss the qualities of hawks and how some people are hungry for action.





...To be continued


Showunmi Rex (@remirex)  is the Senior Editor @ DeltaForte Magazine (www.deltaforteng.com) & Contributing  Editor @ Hype9ja Ent. (www.hype9ja.com) & www.yekipedia.blogspot.com

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