Alhaji Atiku Abubakar got his political tutelage under the late General Shehu Musa Yar-Adua of blessed memory. The late General was a man of the people. He was humble, calm and always mean with his words. He won the hearts of many and was accepted by all the ethnic groups. Call him a political guru because he knew all the political mathematics that is needed to win an election. No wonder, he kept winning the SDP primaries even though the powers that be kept cancelling same for reasons best known to them.
Atiku's political fame started when he locked horns with his home political rival, Alhaji Bala Takaya when they both contested for governorship primaries in Adamawa state under SDP. While late General Shehu Yar-Adua supported Atiku, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, the then national Chairman of SDP rooted for Bala Takaya. Note that both godfathers had presidential ambitions at that time. The contest was so hot that it generated a lot of controversies and both candidates were disqualified and a neutral candidate was anointed. Since then, Atiku's desire to rule his state became stronger and he used his training to put his political machineries and strategies in place hoping to fight another day. When the military under late General Sani Abacha struck in 1993, all political structures were dismantled and the politicians were sent packing. Atiku saw this development as an opportunity to re-strategize and he did it perfectly.
In 1999, an opportunity presented itself again and he had less problems. He clinched the PDP ticket and eventually won the governorship election in Adamawa State. However, when a running mate was being sourced for Chief Obasanjo, who was a boss to Atiku's mentor, Atiku's name featured prominently. The reason was that Obasanjo was not a politician and he just came out of prison yard with his eyes still dazed and there was a need to get him a running mate that was not just loyal but also politically vibrant. Atiku at that time had a firm hold on the political structures of PDM which were subsequently inherited by the PDP. In fact, after the death of Gen. Shehu Musa Yar Adua, Atiku became the leader of the PDM which was a strong political movement. He was finally anointed the Vice President and his political vibrancy and intellectualism was proven beyond reasonable doubt in their first term in office. He was completely in charge, presiding over the economy and restructuring it through privatization. Meanwhile, Chief Obasanjo, his Oga, having been out of prison was behaving like a chicken or dog that had been caged for days. Obasanjo became a touring President and forgot about his mandate and Atiku became the de facto President. In fact, during that period it was like the fear of Atiku was the beginning of wisdom especially among the Governors. Atiku had all the economic and political machineries under his control which almost sack Obasanjo in 2003. But for his loyalty, Atiku refused to succumb to pressure especially from Governors to takeover.
Atiku was the only man who fought and stopped Obasanjo when he discovered that Nigerians were about to get what they did not bargain for - third term. He took the risk not minding whether he lost his position as a Vice President and fought till Baba lyabo was technically knocked out and sent packing out of Aso Rock. The too vowed to take a pound of flesh and frustrated every move by the former VP to achieve his presidential ambition. This did not deter him as he decamped to AC to continue with the battle. He finally lost the Presidency to Umoru Musa Yar-Adua of blessed memory. As a man of political battles, he once again saw the development as an opportunity to re-strategize, overhaul, oil his political machineries and sharpen his political tools for another day. `
In 2011, another opportunity presented itself again and Atiku dusted his political bag but there was a hurdle. He needed to be born again in PDP where he chose to pursue his Presidential ambition and Governor Nyako was to conduct the mass. Governor Nyako proved tough but trust Atiku, the Professor of politics with his political algebra. He shunned Nyako and bulldozed his way through a higher level throwing panic in Nyako's camp. I am sure Nyako and his camp must have wondered what manner of man is Atiku. It was not without obstacles but he found his way back to PDP at last and set his political machineries in motion to clinch the PDP ticket.
The Ciroma-led northern political forum found him worthy of service and anointed him consensus candidate of the north with the active support of Generals Babangida and Gusau who conceded defeat. When President Jonathan and his camp saw Atiku's fame growing, they quickly set in motion machineries to tame the growing popularity knowing that Atiku is a political giant who cannot be underrated or dismissed with a wave of the hand. In the end, the then incumbent President, with all the resources, power and government machineries at his disposal clinched the PDP Presidential ticket on the 13th of January, 2011 at the Eagle's square by 2700 votes to Atiku's 805 votes. The President's victory, it was alleged, was not unconnected with the threats faced by the Governors in leading their delegates to vote otherwise. That is to say, if they had voted otherwise they would have been voted otherwise on their “D day”.
Those who felt the Turakin Adamawa and Zege Mule u Tiv was disgraced at the Eagle's square must have made a serious mistake and I advised them to have a rethink. To those who said he should have forgotten about the Presidency because he made two attempts before and did not succeed, I said they were cowards, short-sighted and people with no future. Those who have the genuine desire to change the system are not supposed to give up easily in spite of hurdles. As a political guru, Atiku lost gallantly and he should have been commended for fighting for peace, unity, justice and fair play. He felt PDP should stick to its zoning arrangement which was agreed upon. By the way, if not Atiku, who would have contested against the then incumbent President? Is it Sarah Jibril who was called to the podium to entertain delegates? I am sure her only campaign expenses were the clothes she wore on that day. I believe that if the PDP primaries were conducted in the manner ANPP did, Atiku would have made a more serious impact. Although Atiku lost in the primaries, he remained a great politician with a great force to reckon with. He remained undaunted and was never shaken nor discouraged. He is indeed a great politician worthy of respect.
At the convention, Atiku's speech was direct and point blank. He addressed critical issues and this discomfited the then incumbent President and his wife. It took the divine intervention of Baba lyabo, David Mark, Dimeji Bankole and others to stabilize and organize him. No wonder the clever Master of Ceremony kept thanking the delegates for almost twenty minutes as way to douse tension and clear the coast for the then President's speech which did not look original when it came. It was hurriedly written on a note book with pen in contrast to Atiku's speech which was well arranged and typed. Sure, it was Baba's handwork. Furthermore, Atiku made the primaries to attract world attention. With his presence in the race, Nigerians of different political parties and indeed the world became deeply interested in the exercise. In fact, President Jonathan was not sure of the outcome until the counting started. Atiku is a politician you cannot fight and sleep with your two eyes closed. I believe the then President must have fasted and had sleepless nights unlike Baba who fought for the third term agenda and still enjoyed the comfort of his bed.
In 2015, Atiku again tested his popularity in APC and contested but lost to President Mohammadu Buhari. The Turakin Adamawa got offended by the circumstances that denied him victory at the APC primaries. However, he was prevailed upon to put his political weight behind Muhammadu Buhari who won the primaries. He eventually did that and surrendered all the political machineries and human machines like Shehu Garba to Buhari who subsequently contested and won the presidential election against the then President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Along the line Atiku was not satisfied with the way he was treated and side-lined by the APC’s hawks and he vowed to take a pound of flesh. This led him back to his root, the PDP like the prodigal son in the Bible. He was accepted back and he re-activated his political structures and machineries, re-strategized and equipped himself better and stronger than before. He subsequently got the PDP ticket through the primaries and contested in the 2019 general elections under the platform of the PDP. The contest between Atiku and Buhari was hotter than the contest between the God of Elijah and the gods of Baal. As the result kept trickling in at Abuja, it became obvious that Atiku was in the lead. This trend angered the hawks in APC who quickly put in place a plan to change the trend to “inconclusive election”. This gave room for figures to be doctored in Kano and Kaduna states where collation was manually processed. This automatically changed the trend of the result and Buhari took the lead. At last the presidential election was won by the incumbent President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku wept seeing that he was robbed of victory in broad day light by the powers-that-be. As it is usual with the Turaki, he sheathed his sword but the fight did not end. He only took a break, re-strategized believing that he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.
The Turaki is out this time again. He has already won the PDP primaries in a stiff competition with Governor Wike of Rivers State who lost narrowly. The coast now seems to be clearer for him especially with the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC which is under controversy even among some Muslims. This time it is a fight to finish because the Turaki may not have another opportunity to fight another political battle. Politically, the APC candidate Bola Tinubu may not be a match for the Turaki Adamawa and even with the power of APC incumbency, it may be difficult for Tinubu to win the Presidency. However, the days ahead will be the most interesting period to watch this battle of the titans.
The candidate of the labour party, Peter Obi is becoming more popular especially among the youths by the day but does he have the political structures, national spread and financial muscle the Turaki has? except by God’s grace.
Wishing the Turaki Adamawa the best of luck this time around as he is a man who can be trusted to resolve the present issues the country is facing. He is a political guru and an entrepreneur who has ran many successful businesses across the nation and has proved to have the capacity to turn things around and he is still a political force to reckon with.
Mike Adekaa
Writes from Gboko, Benue state.
M_ adeks2000@yahoo.com
08065910860
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