FELIX NWANERI writes on opposition towards former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presumed 2027 presidential ambition by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] despite the fact that he has not publicly declared curiosity to vie for the celebration’s ticket
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has not publicly declared intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, nevertheless, his title retains that includes amongst these stated to have an interest within the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku has additionally not brazenly related himself with the varied assist teams urging him to declare for the 2027 ballot, however marketing campaign posters to that impact have been trending on the social media. One of many posters has the inscription: “Be Atikulated 2027. Let’s Get Nigeria Working Once more.”
The previous vice-president has ran for Nigeria’s primary workplace six occasions however solely made it to the poll as a presidential candidate on three events – 2007, 2019 and 2023. In 1983, he made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency after putting third behind Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe within the presidential major election of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He was, nevertheless, elected as governor of Adamawa State in 1998 however chosen earlier than his inauguration by the PDP presidential candidate, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as his operating mate and so they received the presidential election in February 1999.
After his first time period as vice chairman, some governors elected on the platform of the then ruling celebration got here up with a plot to disclaim Obasanjo a second time period. The plan was at hand Atiku the celebration’s presidential ticket within the 2003 basic election however he opted for a joint a ticket along with his principal and each received the election.
Fourth Republic’s presidential bids
The aftermath of the botched plot towards Obasanjo pitted him towards Atiku, and the chilly warfare that ensued after their inauguration, degenerated to a bitter political battle by 2006, when Atiku declared ambition to succeed his principal.
Obasanjo’s insistence that Atiku is not going to succeed him pressured the then vice-president to depart the PDP for the Motion Congress (AC), which handed him its presidential ticket.
This sparked one other spherical of power-play that led to his exclusion from the ultimate record of the 24 candidates printed by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee [INEC] for the 2007 presidential election.
The electoral fee cited Atiku’s indictment for corruption as motive for the omission however he approached the court docket to problem his exclusion. The matter received to the Supreme Courtroom, which in a unanimous resolution, dominated that INEC had no energy to disqualify any candidate for an election.
The judgement paved the best way for Atiku to contest the election, however he got here a distant third. The ballot was received by the candidate of the PDP, late President Umaru Yar’Adua however Atiku rejected the outcome and referred to as for its cancellation, describing the ballot as Nigeria’s “worst election.”
Atiku returned to the PDP in 2009. Whereas his return was initially resisted by his state chapter of the PDP, he was granted a waiver by the celebration’s nationwide management, which paved the best way for him to contest the 2011 PDP presidential major election.
He was chosen by the Northern Elders Political Leaders Discussion board (NPEF) led by a one-time Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, because the area’s consensus candidate however he was floored by then Appearing President, Goodluck Jonathan, who went forward to win the election. The 2011 defeat didn’t deter Atiku as he surfaced once more in 2014 for the 2015 presidency.
He had earlier than then made good his risk of dumping the PDP over what he described as failure of the celebration’s management to return it to the imaginative and prescient of its founding fathers along with his defection to the then opposition All Progressives Congress [APC].
Whereas many thought then that Atiku could be the candidate to beat within the APC presidential major election given his monetary power and political construction, he misplaced the ticket to a former Head of State, Normal Muhammadu Buhari, who had the assist of celebration leaders and governors.
The previous vice-president got here third with 954 votes, trailing a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (974 votes) and Buhari (4,430 votes). Atiku accepted the outcome and pledged to assist the celebration’s selection within the election although some celebration members later accused him of not displaying a lot dedication through the campaigns.
After the 2015 presidential election received by his celebration’s candidate (Buhari), Atiku returned to his enterprise, however a rumoured ambition someday in 2017, prompted political analysts and observers to imagine that he has not foreclosed his presidential ambition.
It was alleged then that Atiku hosted political conferences at Burj Al-Arab, Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to revive his political equipment forward of the 2019 presidential election, however the former vice-president described the hearsay because the handiwork of political mischief makers, who had been out to attract a wedge between him and President Buhari.
Whereas, it was not lengthy earlier than it turned clear that Atiku will take one other shot on the presidency, there was an obstacle to this quest – President Buhari’s second time period bid.
To Atiku, my recommendation is that this, you’ll be 81 years outdated in 2027, and you’ve got been contesting for the presidency since 1993. That is the time so that you can relax and act like an elder
This barrier pressured Atiku to resign from the APC on November 24, 2017. He hinged his resolution on the celebration’s failure to ship on its guarantees to Nigerians, who, in keeping with him, have lengthy been determined for improved financial interventions.
Whereas the previous vice-president promised then to take time to ponder over his subsequent political transfer, it was apparent that he could be returning to his former celebration.
Together with his return to the PDP, the stage was set for him to hitch the 2019 presidential race and as anticipated, Atiku defeated 11 different aspirants on the celebration’s nationwide conference held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on December 7, 2018.
He polled 1,532 votes to beat his closest rival, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who scored 693 votes, whereas the then President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, got here third with 317 votes.
Atiku’s emergence because the presidential candidate of the PDP noticed him squaring towards President Buhari, who was the usual bearer of the APC. The previous vice-president, nevertheless, misplaced the election by over 1,000,000 votes.
He challenged the result of the election however the Supreme Courtroom dashed his hope of turning the desk towards Buhari. Atiku’s lack of the 2019 presidential election didn’t deter him in his bid to steer Africa’s most populous nation.
He threw his hat to the ring once more instantly INEC blew the whistle for the 2023 basic election. What nevertheless ensued over the previous vice chairman’s declaration for the PDP’s ticket was infighting over zoning. As anticipated, the Might 28, 2022, presidential major election of the celebration was characterised by excessive stage politicking that pitted the aspirants towards one another.
The competition was nevertheless received by Atiku, who polled 371 votes to defeat his main challenger and the then governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who garnered 237 votes. The PDP’s lack of ability to resolve the pre and post-presidential major election disaster contributed to Atiku’s lack of the presidential ballot.
He polled 6.9 million votes to put second to his APC counterpart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had 8.7 million votes, whereas Peter Obi, who left PDP on the of its presidential major election for Labour Party (LP), garnered 6.1 million votes to put third.
Atiku, nevertheless, rejected the outcomes and approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), which is the court docket of first occasion in presidential election issues, with prayers for it to nullify Tinubu’s victor as declared by INEC.
However the tribunal, in a consolidated judgement, unanimously affirmed Tinubu’s election. He appealed the judgement but it surely was the identical story because the Supreme Courtroom additionally affirmed Tinubu’s election.
Vow to struggle on regardless of electoral misfortunes
Many had thought that Atiku would stop politics after his bid to upturn President Tinubu’s election was dashed by the apex court docket however he vowed to struggle on for the sake of the nation’s democracy, which in keeping with him, is on a life-support.
His then stated: “For so long as I breathe; I’ll proceed to battle with different Nigerians to deepen our democracy. I’ll proceed to work for the return of political and financial restructuring that the nation wants.”
The previous vice chairman later referred to as on the opposition political events to come back collectively and create a extra formidable entrance that may salvage Nigeria’s democracy from sliding right into a one-party state. Based on him, a formidable coalition is important to handle the perceived decline in democratic values and to stop Nigeria from turning into a de facto one-party system.
He additionally famous that the undertaking of defending democracy within the nation shouldn’t be about only one man. Maybe, it’s towards these backdrops that some political analysts posited that Atiku kickstarted his 2027 presidential bid instantly after the Supreme Courtroom judgement.
2027 stirs strain to stop the stage
Whereas permutations proceed to dominate the political house forward of the 2027 presidential election, Atiku’s unannounced bid is already dealing with opposition inside his celebration.
Amongst chieftains of the celebration, who’ve publicly declared their disapproval to the previous vice chairman quest to take one other shot on the presidency on the platform of the PDP embrace Chief Olabode George [a former deputy national chairman of the part], Wike [now serving as minister of the Federal Capital Territory in the APC government] and Ayo Fayose [a former governor of Ekiti State].
Wike, who insisted that Atiku ought to perish the considered contesting the 2027 presidential election as candidate of the PDP, stated there might be no probability for him. “He (Atiku) is lobbying for one more probability, however the probability is not going to be there,” Wike stated, including: “During which celebration?
How can we depend on one man for therefore a few years?” However, when countered by one in all Atiku’s aide, Phrank Shaibu, that the previous vice-president defeated him to select the PDP’s 2023 presidential ticket, Wike, via his Senior Particular Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, described Atiku’s celebration of his “slender and fraudulent”defeat of Wike within the 2022 PDP major as humorous and infantile.
He stated: “That Atiku is venerating himself for contesting PDP ticket with Wike and Tambuwal, individuals who had been just a bit above 25 as at 1993, when he contested the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential major and got here third, is the extra motive he must go residence and relaxation and cease appearing just like the proverbial cock that failed to comprehend that it’s now aged.”
Olayinka described Atiku as somebody not destined to be president of Nigeria, saying: “It’s apparent that he (Atiku) is paying the worth of betraying the PDP in 2003, 2007 and 2014.
If not, the identical presidency he has contested twice and misplaced, might have been his to simply choose if he had prevented being inordinately formidable whereas he was vice-president. “It was this desperation that made him to contest for president as candidate of Motion Congress in 2007, whereas nonetheless serving as vice-president, elected underneath the platform of the PDP.
A serving vicepresident becoming a member of others to kind one other celebration and contesting as candidate of the brand new celebration towards his personal celebration. That’s Alhaji Atiku Abubakar! “Most significantly, Atiku’s conscience will proceed to prick him on his roles in Lagos in 2023, and I’m certain that even his apology to PDP members in 2018 can by no means take away from his physique, that garment of betrayal.
“Due to this fact, it’s once more being sounded to his ears and people of the individuals mendacity to him that he’s the one one who can win the presidency for the PDP that the ticket of the celebration is not going to be for somebody like him, who will lose election and run to Dubai, solely to come back again two years to a different election.” Fayose, on his half, urged Atiku to finish his ambition of operating for the presidency.
The previous governor of Ekiti State insisted that at a time when Nigerians are in search of youthful leaders, political figures like Atiku ought to study to depart the stage when the ovation is loudest. His phrases: “I’m certain, at this stage, with all due respect to him, he would slightly wish to step away from the politics of contesting elections once more.
By the point Asiwaju finishes his time period, Atiku Abubakar will in all probability be 80 or 81. So, what would be the attraction? “We should always go away the stage when the ovation is loudest. I respect him, and I believe Nigerians are yearning for a youthful technology now greater than ever earlier than.
So, on what foundation will Atiku come and contest once more?” Bode George, who additionally suggested Atiku to finish his 31-year-long bid to be president and assume the place of an elder statesman, instructed journalists at a press convention, final week, to mark his 79th birthday, that the previous vice-president’s ambition could destroy the celebration if not put in test. Noting that Atiku’s bid to be President dated again to the 12 months 1993, George stated it was time the previous vice-president retired from such contest, particularly within the 2027 election.
“To Atiku, my recommendation is that this, you’ll be 81 years outdated in 2027, and you’ve got been contesting for the presidency since 1993. That is the time so that you can relax and act like an elder,” George stated.
Age can’t be an computerized qualification or disqualification in politics… If Atiku decides to run, good luck to him. If he doesn’t wish to run, no drawback. However anyone ought to muzzle him
Atiku’s camp replies critics
There isn’t a doubt that the previous vice-president shouldn’t be a neophyte to the political intrigues presently enjoying out inside the PDP over his 2027 ambition, which maybe, explains why has he has not solely opted to maintain his plans to himself however declared that he would assist whoever the PDP agrees to provide its ticket to, together with Obi.
The thoughts sport, however, it’s clear that Atiku’s camp seems to be assured that he’ll choose the celebration’s ticket if he vies for it.
Atiku’s Particular Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, who gave a touch to this optimism in his response to Wike’s criticism of his principal, reminded him of his unsuccessful makes an attempt to put in his most well-liked candidate inside the celebration since 2019. He stated: “If he [Wike] had the facility to distribute presidential tickets like celebration favours, he’d definitely have saved one for himself.
Atiku schooled him and his chosen protégé in his personal yard in 2019 after which handed him a convincing defeat within the 2023 major election in Abuja.”
Shaibu additionally questioned Wike’s give attention to 2027, given his public assist for Tinubu’s potential re-election, suggesting that the FCT minister ought to prioritize the instant challenges dealing with Nigerians.
“Individuals are battling rising prices and starvation; these are the problems we ought to be addressing, not political manoeuvres for 2027,” he famous.
A former presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Dele Momodu, who additionally pushed again at critics of Atiku contesting the 2027 presidential election, puzzled why the critics are afraid of his presidential ambition.
Insisting that solely God and future will decide whether or not Atiku will achieved his presidential ambition come 2027 or not, Momodu identified that these criticising Atiku’s presidential ambition on the idea of age didn’t assist younger candidates through the 2023 elections.
Citing Joe Biden and Donald Trump as examples of politicians who turned presidents at a sophisticated age, he queried: “What has been the affect of those youthful individuals who stated they’ve been in politics? Go and test their states. What have they accomplished for the amount of cash made accessible to them?
“Age can’t be an computerized qualification or disqualification in politics. It’s as much as God and future. I’m a toddler of future and that’s the reason I’ve contentment. If Atiku decides to run, good luck to him. If he doesn’t wish to run, no drawback. However no one ought to muzzle him.”
On whether or not Atiku could be a risk to President Tinubu’s reelection bid, Momodu stated: “I’m certain they (the critics) imagine so. I do know those that imagine that he’s the one one proper now. Atiku might be a risk if he is ready to galvanise a mega political celebration. He might be a risk. The temper of the nation is overwhelmingly against the present chief.”
Help teams be a part of the fray
The Nationwide Chairman of Atiku Help Group, Alkhasim Ahmad Dila, who pushed again at Atiku’s critics, significantly instructed Wike that he can not cease the previous vice chairman from contesting the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the PDP.
“We’re conscious that Wike is enjoying the scripts of APC, however allow us to guarantee him that he’ll fail. We’re additionally conscious that his mission in APC is to disrupt PDP’s sanity.
Let the reality be instructed, Wike is in no place to determine who bears PDP’s Presidential flag, Wike and his allies are nothing however viruses,” he stated.
One other assist group underneath the aegis, Face Of Waziri-Nigeria [FOWN], on its half, faulted Bode George’s place that Atilu could be unfit to contest in 2027 presidential election on the idea age.
Director Normal of FOWN, Mr. Bukky Adeojo, who described the assertion as ill-intended, stated: “Bode George has performed lead roles in sabotaging efforts of PDP stakeholders in time previous and due to this fact lacks any iota of honour to counsel anybody, not to mention a effectively dignified Atiku Abubakar.”
He added that “Bode George has no energy or capability to recommendation Atiku to not contest on the idea of age, when his kinsman and paymaster, Bola Tinubu is of similar age with Atiku…
He ought to look forward to what God has in inventory for Atiku come 2027 and I hope he’ll promise once more to depart Nigeria when Atiku assume energy come 2027.”
Whereas the controversy on whether or not Atiku ought to stop the political stage forward of the 2027 elections rages, no matter selection he’ll make shouldn’t be possible to learn by the desires of his critics as it should quantity to succumbing to blackmail.
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