2019: PDP Should Deliver Atiku Abubakar to Nigerians -By Izuoma Ibe

One evident truth about the state of things in Nigeria today is that Nigerians are fed up with the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), particularly, Nigerians are tired of the teeth gnashing under the Buhari administration. This is very obvious to the point that no part of Nigeria is spared of this torturous leadership. In the past, there were cries of regional marginalization but today, the cries have gone from regional to families crying for daily bread. Who will bail the cat?

2015 was a remarkable year for Nigeria. Nigerians hungered for a good transition in their democracy; to elect a credible leader that will lead the country with less or no corruption, nepotism etc. They sought for a leader that will lead the country to greater developments in the economy, boost employment, heal the country of threats of dismemberment, entrench discipline hence their overwhelming vote for the APC against the then ruling PDP government which was well labelled as corrupt. They saw Buhari as an option.

There is truth in the saying that a starving man sees anything edible as a good meal. Buhari had no bases for the heap of credibility on him by Nigerians. There was no good to be expected from Buhari who led a coup d’état that toppled a democratically elected government in 1983. There was no good to be expected from Buhari who was investigated as corrupt from investigated reports of his dealings while the boss of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in Nigeria. There was no reason to entrust the entire citizens of Nigeria by Nigerians on Buhari who threatened to soak the whole nation in blood if he lost in the 2015 presidential election. President Buhari before 2015 had no iota of pedigree that commands fair desire to be elected president by Nigerians. His dealings with Aso Rock have not proved any doubt otherwise.

Nigerians are regretting publicly for casting their votes for Buhari, a man who was so desperate for power which led him to topple a constituted government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The political elites within his political party are publicly telling of how appalling their choices to support Buhari have turned out to be. Former president Obasanjo not only have called for the voting out of the Kastina born president, he has gone ahead to set up a parallel political force which eventually has metamorphosed into a political party. Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who through coup removed Buhari from office, has also advised Nigerians against securing a second term for Buhari with their votes. T. Y. Danjuma is not saying otherwise as he has accused the government of anti-people activities. Where are the good deeds of Buhari?

Nigerians hoped that electing M.K.O Abiola will right many wrongs of the military in the country hence their massive vote for him and he emerged winner in that 1993 presidential election but IBB cut short that joy.  Today, Nigerians are still looking for that leader that can get them live up the expectation of the world, as the true giant of Africa.

As 2019 presidential election draws near, presidential aspirants are stepping onto the stage. Nigerians have seen the presence of Hassan Dakwambo, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Atiku Abubakar. These men are jostling for the PDP presidential ticket to move into the 2019 presidential ring to contest with president Buhari who, going by the uncertain and undemocratic methods of the APC, will get an automatic ticket to contest as he has declared an interest to run.

One lesson must be taken from the APC’s 2015 presidential primary which presented Buhari as an option for election. The popularity of a candidate and the interest of the political elites made Buhari emerge presidential flag bearer of the APC. It was obvious that Nigerians had lost faith in PDP and Jonathan and were ready for an alternative. As Buhari emerged, they had no choice than to vote him in even with the support of underage voters from the Northern part of Nigeria.

Political parties have a great influence on who emerges president of a country. Come 2019, should PDP present a wrong candidate to Nigerians, it is most likely that Nigerians will vote in that candidate for good and receive bad leadership in the end. It is incumbent on PDP to look beyond party interest and present a candidate who is the choice of Nigerians. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has been very close to the hearts of Nigerians. He has stood tall for the sustaining of Nigerians democracy even as he joined in fighting the military out of power in Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar was instrumental to the emergence of M.K.O. Abiola as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992. He shelved his presidential quest and pulled his supporters to Abiola to ensure that democracy returned after Buhari stole it from the country. Though the abortion of that election by IBB and death of Abiola in prison custody, Atiku did not abandon Nigeria, he came back to fight the government of Abacha, putting his life on the line while Buhari was in the good books of Abacha. In 1999, Atiku was elected governor of his state Adamawa but Obasanjo seeing his intimidating political popularity across the country called him to run on the same ticket with him as Vice President. Atiku again shelved his already elected office of governor and continued to ensure that the first office is secured because if the office of a democratically elected president was not secure as at that time, it is possible for the whole political process to be put aside by the military.

Obasanjo/Atiku’s presidency was achieved in 1999. In 2006, Atiku again, as Vice President fought for Nigeria’s democracy as he stood against his boss, Obasanjo’s third term agenda as Obasanjo was desperate not to leave power in line with the likes of sit tight African presidents Muammar Gaddafi of Lybia, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe etc. Atiku is the second employer of labour in Nigeria. Nigeria will make history if PDP delivers Atiku to Nigerians and  is elected president in 2019 as it will be the first time the country is electing an industrialist, a true democrat, a former Vice President, a corrupt free past leader, a youth motivator, a successful man who rose from grass to grace, a world acclaimed billionaire, president.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not look the other way but look the way of Nigerians in their desire for a repeat of 1993 election; to vote massively for Atiku to stop Buhari as they did to stop Babangida. The faith of a successful transition of Nigeria in her democracy and a successful restructuring of Nigeria’s federation lies in the PDP. The Peoples Democratic Party should deliver Atiku Abubakar to Nigerians.

Izuoma Ibe, Convener, Join The Restructuring Campaign, JTRC. He writes from Lagos via jtrc@jtrconline.com