Atiku Abubakar

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A coalition of civil society organisations asked Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, to step aside in favour of Musa Kwankwaso, the candidate of the Nigeria Peoples Party, to prevent needless vote splitting in the North.

Bishop Godwin Abah, the coalition’s head, said in a press conference at the NNPP secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday that Nigeria’s future was in jeopardy and that, as a result, the Kwankwaso Presidency’s political sagacity and tenacity of purpose were needed to turn the country around.

Abah noted that the organisations had carefully examined the presidential candidates of major political parties, as well as their backgrounds and democratic credentials, adding that Kwankwaso stood out among the other candidates.

He was quoted as saying, “A servant-leader with milk of human kindness, Kwankwaso transformed Kano State as a two- term governor and will bring his wealth of experience as former Minister of Defence, Ambassador, Senator, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives etc., to bear on national governance as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It was also the opinion of the rural Nigerians that the coalition interfaced with that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should set aside his presidential aspiration for a dynamic, pragmatic, energetic and resourceful Kwankwaso.

“Accordingly, the coalition calls on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate to step down for the NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to avoid unnecessary splitting of votes in the North.

“Kwankwaso will inject fresh air in governance, restore hope to a bewildered nation that has seen more carnage than dividends of democracy and build a new Nigeria we all desire.

“Atiku has done his best for the nation, we appreciate his contribution as Vice President of Nigeria. He remains a statesman.

There are now about three days left until the presidential election, which involves four major contenders, including Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NNPP), and Peter Obi (LP).

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The United Christians Leaders Eagle Eye Forum (UCLEEF) has formally endorsed the former Vice President and People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, as its presidential candidate ahead of the February 25 general elections.

According to the group’s national coordinator, Pastor Aminchi Habu, “as the great democracy defender of Africa, we see Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the political pilot that will fly Nigeria to its promise land, the political engineer that will repair the damaged engine’s of Nigeria economy, the political architect that will redesign and take Nigeria to a glorious future and the political doctor of our nation who has the prescribed drugs that will heal Nigeria of all its security and other societal ills”.

Pastor Aminchi further stated that “we have four Million two hundred and sixteen thousand one hundred (4,216,100) registered members, which we have instructed each and every one of them to win at least one (1) vote for His Excellency Atiku Abubakar GCON at the coming Polls, so as it stands now we have eight million four hundred and thirty-two thousand two hundred (8,432,200) votes on the ground for his Excellency”.

Representative of the former Vice President, Mr Dele Momudu, thanked the group and promised that an Atiku presidency would be for all Nigerians irrespective of religious, ethnic, or political differences.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

Religion was central to Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the APC’s candidate for the 2023 presidential election. We discussed the issue as if it would not end. Since the 1993 annulled election of Abiola/Kingibe (both Muslims), no major candidate and his running mate have ever come from the same religion until now: Tinubu/Shettima (both Muslims). But, as the election approaches (we are, in fact, counting hours), only a few people talk about that. However, religion will play a significant role in the voting pattern.

The wild popularity of Labour Party’s Peter Obi on social media and his appeal to foreign media has something to do with his religion. I know this may sound controversial, but it is so. The three other front candidates are Muslims, while Obi is Christian. Besides this, I can’t see a glaring difference between him and NNPP’s Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso per se.

Tinubu and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar are in their 70s, while Kwankwaso and Obi are in their 60s. The four leading candidates are stinking rich and belong to 1% of the Nigerian elite. Interestingly, the candidates represent Nigeria’s so-called major ethnolinguistic groups of Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, alias WAZOBIA.

Though, there is a parallel between Obi and Tinubu. Many people will vote for them because of their religious identities. I learned that many churches, especially in the North, had ordered their members to vote for Obi. Likewise, the faith-based civil liberties organisation Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) recently “reminded Northern Muslims of their promise to support a Southern Muslim [i.e. Tinubu] in the 2023 presidential election”.

Given the above, I agree with some observers and analysts that Obi may surprise his critics, such as myself, in the upcoming election. The votes from his Christian brethren and others supporting him for other reasons will make a difference. However, Tinubu has many more advantages – being APC the ruling party and his decades-old political footprints, among others.

Anyway, we hope for the best and pray for peaceful elections. But, please, stay away from violence. Your safety should be your most treasured possession. No politician or political party is worth dying for.

With love from a disenfranchised Nigerian citizen.

Muhsin Ibrahim works and lives in Cologne, Germany and can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, vowed to implement policies presented to him by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday.

According to him, the CAN’s policy document was not in contradiction with his belief, as some of the points presented were contained in the book he wrote when he was a vice president of Nigeria.

The Presidential Candidate made this disclosure during his meeting with the CAN leadership in Abuja Tuesday.

He said, “I have listened to the presentation of the CAN document and I can tell you the CAN document is totally in conformity with my thoughts in a book that I published when I was the Vice President and this led to a fundamental disagreement with my boss as well as my constituents.

“There is no difference between my book and CAN’s presentation. I stand before you not to campaign but to tell you the honest truth, what you have presented is what I have always believed in. And if I have the opportunity, I swear to God I will do it.

“Oil didn’t send me to school, my parents paid cattle tax, market tax, radio tax and these were the taxes that sent me school from primary to university. If God has given you gold or oil, take your oil or gold but I will tax you.

“Why should we be fighting over resources that have been endowed to whoever it is endowed to,” said the presidential candidate.

Atiku was received by the CAN’s President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the Secretary of the association, and other executive members.

The CAN’s president, while presenting the document they titled “Policy Roadmap for Future Nigeria”, said the the document was for avoidance of doubt.

He said, “For avoidance of doubt, we present the policies that we believe will address the crises of development in Nigeria.”

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Kaduna State youth leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Aliyu Bello, has affirmed that the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remains the best among the presidential candidates in the presidential race.

Alhaji Bello said that Atiku has the prerequisite experience, contacts internationally and across the country, and has impacted many lives through his philanthropic works.

While speaking with The Daily Reality reporter, he disclosed that Atiku understands how to bring deliberate steps and actions to create big ripple effects that can impact an economy and make life far more abundant for the people in the country. 

He urged Nigerians of voting age to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the various Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in their localities to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

By Mubarak Shu’aibu

With the 2023 general election close at hand, the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has released a six-page letter of appeal to Nigerians, targeting the youths in particular.

In the letter, Obasanjo eschewed the likes of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his former deputy, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his mentee, Engineer Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and settled for Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The choice has lent credence to those who believed Obasanjo is on a mission to scuffle Atiku’s presidential ambition comes February 2023. It’s in the public domain that former President Obasanjo is embroiled in a conflict with his former Vice,  and that is a good reason to disagree less with those that held such views. 

But, the good news for Atiku and his fanbase is the fact that the letter of his former boss, when placed in brackets with the 2023 presidential election, is a political featherweight. And here’s why.

Regardless of his exaggerated shortcomings, his broad political war chest, vast experience, and first name recognition have put him in the best stead to blitzkrieg the ruling All Progressive Congress (“APC”), a party which is currently battling for its existence. 

Exploring the more contentious articles against Atiku, either from his former boss or any other individual, it only emanates from a phobia that revolves around Atiku’s tendency to resuscitate Nigeria and rewrite his name in the book of history from the bad opinions sold publicly about him, to what he really is.

Another bullet point, unlike Buhari in 2015, the ruling party candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, does not have the overwhelming support of his people. Some of his rebellious allies, such as Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Babachir Lawal, Akinwunmi Ambode, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, are seriously plotting to ambush his ambition. 

These, and a wealth of other reasons, have unsettled  Obasanjo and the G-5 camp, who now looked marooned. However, Atiku’s victory is eminent (by the  Grace of the Almighty). Meanwhile, he’s one Nigerian [Obasanjo] whose opinion, whether right or wrong, doesn’t mean anything to Nigerian youths. As a former military officer, he, along with others, created problems for the country. When we revolted against them, they went through the back door. They’re the chief reason why our democracy is built in such a way that only the interest of the “elites” is protected. And it’s no wonder the last Military Head of State is the political ombudsman of Nigeria. They feel that they’re the power brokers, and anyone seeking a political office must lick their shoes.

And by his assertion that Obi has people who can pull his ears if and when necessary, he’s just trying to muffle the fact that Atiku won’t listen to the cabals. But that’s the sort of President Nigeria needed at this material time.

So, how much electoral value does his letter brings? Zero, I guessed!

Mubarak Shu’aib writes from Hardawa, Misau LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via naisabur83@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has accused his Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) counterpart, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, of being a liar.

Tinubu Tuesday argued that Abubakar was a liar who could not explain the source of his wealth, adding that there were a lot of contradictions in the information he gave.

Addressing the North-West Muslim leaders in Kano, Tinubu said, “They asked one of them. How did you get rich? He said he was doing transportation and motor vehicle business.

“He had forgotten that civil service (sic), you cannot do any other thing if you are a custom officer but farm. Who is lying to who? Who is contradicting who?” 

Tinubu mockingly threw the label against Abubakar to the delight of his supporters, who cheered him on at the event.

However, in 2020, Tinubu was reportedly accused of stealing public funds after Peoples Gazette’s report exposed some documents showing how Tinubu stole to enrich himself.

By Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng

The unprecedented mammoth crowd that welcomed Atiku’s campaign entourage in almost every state they visited is shockingly mind-boggling. The recent one in Katsina, President Muhammad Buhari’s home state, speaks volumes and needs no further political argument that the opposition party has amicably conquered the heart and minds of the northern populace.

Most of the north-eastern electorates feel they now have ample opportunity to produce a president from the region after considering the clear development this has brought to the north-western parts of the country. It’s general knowledge that most of the Federal Government initiatives, such as National Social Investment Schemes, N-power, and other beneficial capital projects, under this current government were enjoyed mainly by in the north-western states. They are making it more developed in politics, infrastructure, and the economy.

The above issue is a welcome development because the region is considered core-north large and more densely populated than the northeastern parts.

But, the northeastern parts, for example, are yearning to produce the first-ever president from the region, which will undoubtedly pave the way for social, political, and infrastructural development. Thus, the hit helps curb the devastating effects of extreme poverty, and hardship occasioned by the Boko Haram Insurgency in some parts of the Borno and Yobe States. And communal, Farmers Herder’s clashes in Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi States.

Unquestionably, whoever understands the psyche of a typical northerner must agree that it is difficult for one to reject Atiku despite the current circumstances in the country mindfully. Therefore, the northern populace that massively voted for Buhari in the previous elections unopposed should have no regrets about doing the same for the leading People democratic party’s candidate.

Besides, even the elites and the ruling party stalwart knows that are a shot of words on how to stop people, especially from the north, from voting for the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the upcoming general election. Thus, remain with no option but to beat around the bush, able to maintain their political positions and offices.

Atiku may win or lose the election, but undoubtedly, the staunch and unalloyed support Buhari previously enjoyed in the north will certainly be transferred to him and no other.

The northeastern people have never rejected Atiku Abubakar in Nigerian political history but chose Buhari ahead of him due to the political exigencies of the time.

Interestingly, the era of political manipulation has gone. As a result, an average Nigerian from the remote and urban centrist now has a proper knowledge of the game of politics. Consequently, it allowed individuals to amicably exercise their constitutional franchise by considering the most deserving candidate regardless of religion, region, or political party.

Above all, politics, they say, is a game of numbers and interest, and whoever wants to play it should imbibe the culture of flag-waving, unity in diversity, and national Integration.

Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng writes from Yola.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, has pledged to dredge the River Niger, assure that the Onitsha Port is functioning, and revive the economy of the South East.

Atiku made the pledge to party supporters yesterday in Awka, the capital of the Anambra State.

When he met with Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, hours before the start of the campaign, he stated that Soludo had made some of these requests.

Atiku was quoted as saying, “On our arrival today we visited their governor Prof. Soludo, and he said to me. I know you are going to work but make sure that all the federal roads that pass through Anambra State are reconstructed.

“And I promised him, I’m going to do that, he said ‘make sure that you control our erosion, because Anambra is the erosion headquarters of the world. Erosion is destroying our farmlands, is destroying our houses and everything have.

“This is a very gigantic project. And I promised him I’m going to do that, and you know I have worked with Soludo before, he is a first-class patriotic Nigerian.

“You have an excellent governor. He also appealed to me that Onisha port this time around we are going to dredge River Niger and Onisha port will function.

“We are also going to help Anambra industrialize the state so that the state will create as many jobs for our young men and women.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Yakubu Dogara, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has rejoined the main opposition party a few days after endorsing the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar for president. The defection is the latest political move by the lawmaker in his consistent opposition to the same-faith ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

On Monday, the former legislator was welcomed into the party at a rally in Lagos State for the presidential race.

Note that this is coming just 48 hours after Dogara and several irate northern APC officials expressed their support for the former vice president’s presidential candidacy.

This is not the first time the former speaker changed his party, as it’s less than a year since he dumped PDP for APC at the Presidential Villa Abuja.