By Anthony Onwuka, Ph.D
In the book of Matthew 22:14, we are told that “for many are called, but few are chosen.” That is the exact definition of the true nature of the man, Atiku Abubakar GCON, the erudite former Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999-2007, a man who has dedicated his entire life to the service of his people.
In the long history of Nigeria’s democracy, only very few political actors have been persistent in their quest to serve their fatherland like the man Atiku Abubakar. This cannot be termed unquenchable ambition, but an unyielding insistence and desire to bequeath a legacy primed on democratic ideals even at a great personal and political cost.
A seasoned statesman, philanthropist of no mean repute, an entrepreneur and a father figure to many, Atiku Abubakar is not a man to throw his hands in despair having apparently been buoyed by the encouraging words as recorded in the book of Proverbs 24:16 (New International Version) that “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again”. In light of this, Wazirin Adamawa strongly believes that his time will certainly come and truly has come. For him, quitting is not an option.
The statesman may have failed in several attempts to the presidency, but he certainly won’t be the first to contest elections several times and fail. For the record, in Brazil, Kuiz Inácio Lula da Sylva lost the presidential election in 1989, 1994, and 1998 before eventually winning in 2002. In France, Fraçios Miterrand lost it in 1965 and 1974 but was elected president in 1981. Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, failed in three attempts in 2003, 2007, and 2011 but was elected in 2015. This is to buttress Confucius’ opinion that “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising each time we fall.”
Like every human, Atiku Abubakar is not infallible and may have made mistakes in the course of life’s journey, especially in the political space. But his persecution is one too many, raising the question: Is Atiku really the devil his opponents have made of him?
For the many who may not known why there is so much schisms and orchestrated political persecution against Atiku. His woes are largely as a result of his defiance to support the evil machinations of a few against the majority of the citizens. It is no secret that Atiku Abubakar stood out as the lone voice against the quest for a third term by his principal ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
This refusal turned him to the number one enemy of greedy political actors who thought they could selfishly hold on to power against the provisions of the country’s grund norm which mandates elected office holders to serve for a period of four years or eight years if re-elected.
In the years following , he was tagged “corrupt” and made to face investigations, public vilification, and sustained efforts to sideline him from political relevance. Institutions meant to safeguard democracy were deployed as instruments of intimidation to turn the former number two citizen into a “persona-non grata.”
But Atiku would have none of that. Instead, he sought refuge in the courts, turning to the judiciary as the last line of democratic defense. His legal battles – particularly his fight to contest the 2007 presidential election – reinforced a critical democratic principle: that political disputes must be resolved through constitutional means, not executive fiat. His eventual legal victory affirmed judicial independence at a fragile moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
In all these, Nigerians should be grateful to Atiku Abubakar, who, against all odds, opposed the perpetuation of one man in office longer than the prescribed tenure. By now, we would have been talking about a president who would have ruled for more than twenty years and still staying put for as long as his feeble knees can carry him.
Methinks rather than continue to vilify the Waziri, the time is nigh when Nigerians should in one accord rally behind him and hand him the baton as one who will and can run the race successfully and faithfully knowing too well that critical moments like that our country is facing now, need men with strong mind and will, to pull us out from the woods.
Atiku Abubakar is the man for the moment. The cap fits him, and let him wear it come 2027.
– Chief Anthony Onwuka,PhD writes from Abuja.
