By Pascal Oparada
The outcome of the presidential primaries of the various political parties, particularly the emergence of the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, as the standard of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as the flag-bearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has confronted Nigerians with a dilemma.
But, it is even more so for the former president, Olusegun Olusegun, who was Atiku’s principal for eight years between 1999 and 2007, and with whom he has had a very strained relationship.
Obasanjo has vowed severally that Atiku would never become the country’s president. But that was before he discovered a bigger foe in Buhari, who, incidentally he helped to power in 2015. For the former President, therefore, the candidacy of Atiku and Buhari is like the axiomatic devil and deep blue sea.
That he decided to align with his former deputy is an indication that he sees in Atiku a lesser evil than he does in Buhari.
When Obasanjo endorsed Atiku for president in the 2019 presidential elections, it did not come as a surprise to many who have read his body language.
It was obvious Obasanjo would endorse Atiku because of his recent comments. A few days ago he had said Nigeria needed a president who has a deep understanding of the economy. Atiku was the head of the economic team under Obasanjo.
Also, Afenifere, the Yoruba Socio-cultural group has also been in a closed-door meeting with the former president. Analysts believe they went to persuade him to accept the candidacy of Atiku.
Obasanjo has been a known critic of his former vice, sidelining him for most of his presidency until he left office in 2007.
In his book, My Watch, Obasanjo said the reason he refused to foist Atiku on Nigerians was because of Atiku’s alleged tendency for corruption. His love to buy himself out of any situation with money. He said the former vice president lacks negotiating skills and was not a deal breaker.
It is noteworthy that in all his attacks on him, Atiku has not openly engaged his former boss in any debate about his ‘many sins’ as alleged by Obasanjo.
In fact, Atiku had in his acceptance speech as the PDP’s presidential flag bearer last Sunday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, thanked Obasanjo whom he said contributed so much to what he is today politically.
Analysts also believe that Obasanjo’s claims of Atiku’s corruption tendency are a hogwash as Atiku is not standing trial in any known court for any of the allegations he raised in his book. He has not been arrested by any agency of government for corruption.
So, what has changed about Atiku? Why the sudden turnaround? In politics what is permanent is interest.
Obasanjo has also been a virulent critic of President Muhammadu Buhari. In several publications, he has openly criticized Buhari’s style of leadership and asked him ‘to dismount from the horse’. He led a coalition to form a ‘third force’ to dislodge Buhari from office.
Atiku, analysts believe, is the only one who currently has the muscle and resources, both financial and political, to dislodge the incumbent from office. According to them Atiku has a national name recognition and would match Buhari for what it is worth.
Those close to Obasanjo had hinted to TheNiche that he would rather eat his words on Atiku than support Buhari for a second term.
So, for Obasanjo, Atiku’s emergence is the least awful choice compared to Buhari.
