By. Benjamin Ogueri Enwerem
This beautiful and endowed landscape of diverse cultures, peoples, rigid contours of history, adventures and missed opportunities has really come to be, or not to be. The vicissitudes of war, political transitions, misrule and unending siege of poverty may have diminished and dampened our existence but our survival instincts and perseverance have preserved us through generations to weather these storms. In many ways, the Nigerian has proven to be a SPECIE that has survived the threat of extinction in the face of daunting adversities occasioned by the civil war, ravaging poverty and notably, the recent palpable and dangerous tilting towards total anarchy fueled by rampant Herdsmen killings across the Middlebelt and parts of the Northern regions. This fragile union is about to disintegrate unless, a true passionate and knowledgeable Leviathan takes control of our fortunes.
Since 1999, we have witnessed some gradual progress since taking over from the military. The first eight years of this not so nascent democracy saw to the pioneering of economic growth and some administrative coherence. The mastermind of this very period is none other than Wazirin ATIKU ABUBAKAR, who as Vice President worked tirelessly to bring the best technocrats on board and assisted President Olusegun Obasanjo to set up a viable foundation for the New Nigeria.
In 2007, the President Yaradua regime was effectively building on the established foundation before his demise. We also saw the economic growth and development as Jonathan mounted the leadership saddle thereafter. Nigeria became one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. It was not all Uhuru as the polity heated up once again towards 2015. The evolution of our Democracy had been engulfed in anxiousness as our so called nascent democracy would be tested by the resurgence of a reverred populist, General Muhammad Buhari whose ambitious aspiration was to become revolutionary in a masterful merger of opposition parties which set the stage for an unprecedented turn of political events.
In the wake of the 16 years of gradual, yet somewhat stable maturity in the DEMOCRACY which had been stitched together, our anxiety gave way in 2015, to the sound of the drums of CHANGE, a mantra that resonated beyond our very shores and captivated all classes of people. The avalanche of this tidal wave of CHANGE was unprecedented and the incumbent President Jonathan was defeated for the first time in our Democratic history. A new era was born, a renewed agenda and bountiful high expectations engulfed all Nigerians as we opened our hearts, arms and embraced the new regime. We were poised for a change that will enable a new hope for a well manicured Nigeria of our dreams. As a people who believed that the vestiges of hardship will be a thing of the past and be overcome by this glimpse of hope , we couldn’t wait for this New Dawn which had promised everything possible. Little did we know that a darker Epoch in our history had just begun. The footprints of this Dark Era became pronounced at the very onset as we began to see the vivid erosion of press freedom when the AIT media was barred from covering events at the Presidential Villa. Inch by inch Democracy started to give way to despotism. The unending feud between the Legislature and the Executive began to truncate governance at all levels. As the President ruled with careless abandon, appointing his executive council parochially from his native tribe, Nigeria began to witness torrential disharmony and disenchantment amongst the diverse ethnic nationalities. The ruling Party has no control over the tyranny of the President instead, they continued to fan the flames of impunity and indifference as the country inevitably drifts towards collapse. The Electoral Process has waywardly become disgraceful as seen in the conduct of the Ekiti governorship poll. We have become a laughing stock amongst the committee of Nations. It is now clear that Corruption and lack of transparency in the accounting of the Country’s revenue is at an all-time high. AND THE CHANGE NEVER CAME HENCE: #BUHARIMUSTGO.
The Drums are resounding again, this time for a different kind of CHANGE. “CHANGING THE CHANGE”. Expectations are at the peak, ‘the center can no longer hold’. Three years of the PMB administration seem to have lasted a life time, the Nigerian Stoic tolerance has given way to regrets and anguish. The Nigerian spirit has finally been broken by abject misrule, blatant impunity and cruel hardship. The Nigerian had never had it so rough. Terrorism, Herdsmen killings and other heinous crimes have torn the Country apart. Every index of economic growth and recent rise in oil revenue have not translated to improved conditions for Nigerians, neither has it reflected positively on the prices of goods and commodities. Fuel price at the pump soared from N97.00 to N145.00 per litre. Corruption fighting is now a decoy for victimisation of the opposition. Abuse of the constitution and usurpation of judicial and legislative responsibilities by the Executive is rampant. The Democracy we thought we had is simply an extension of PMB’s Military regime of 1983-1985.
Nigeria has come to that very intersection and crossroads where it becomes inevitably auspicious for a U-TURN. This very important point in our history cannot be achieved without radical patriotism and passionate leadership. Only very few accomplished and experienced patriots can dare to accept these challenges. We need a Pilot whose knowledge of this route can successfully navigate this our Ark to safety.
That Man to pilot the Nigerian vessel is none other than WAZIRIN ATIKU ABUBAKAR, GCON. He wears the Nigerian Spirit fervently with unfettered passion. As a Vice President, he saw to the growth of this Country by seeking and engaging the right kind of administrators in most Ministeries and Agencies of the federal government. His nack for efficiency and productivity steered the Obasanjo era to unprecedented achievements.
Wazirin ATIKU ABUBAKAR is one of the more successful owners of capital and employment. He has employed thousands of Nigerians from every region in his private businesses. His success in the private sector is enviable. He is meticulously educated and experienced. As a public servant, he discharged his duties with manifest efficiency, he has never been found wanting, or prosecuted for any crimes or corrupt practices. The records are there.
We need a leader whose love of all people in the country is not in doubt. He is not an ethnic or religious fundamentalist, he is tolerant and is very well accepted by everyone, regardless of geopolitical leanings.
He is Capable and trusted with the burning issues of RESTRUCTURING which must be put in place as urgently as possible, to save our beloved country and guarantee rapid economic development and growth. He looks to achieve this with the Legislative arm immediately he assumes office and he seems to be the only one who has been clamouring for this since 2004. He is fearless and resolute in the quest of making Nigeria work through an implementable fiscal federalism. For him, the center must become smaller than the peripheral Regional governments.
We are definitely enthused by his aspiration and we honestly foresee a new LEVIATHAN in President ATIKU ABUBAKAR on May 29, 2019. Let’s make it happen. #ATIKU4PRESIDENT2019.
