Atiku at 72: The final showdown for the Presidency

Former vice president and Waziri Adamawa Atiku Abubakar turns 72 years old on Sunday November 25, 2018, while his 26 years quest to be the president of Nigeria reaches its climax and a defining moment. Atiku has never had a political platform as strong as the current People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on which he could actualize his lifelong dream to be the president of Nigeria, so the 2019 elections brings him the best chance, if he is ever going to be the Commander-inChief of the Nigerian armed forces.

At 72 and with another election not coming until he is 76, if Atiku does not win the 2019 presidential elections, his long stay in the active politics of the presidency would automatically come to an end - he will join the array of some ‘owners’ of Nigeria that will be retired from active politics.

For Atiku, the 2019 presidential election is his last shot at presidency. It is a final showdown; he will fight the battle with his body, soul, wealth and everything available at his disposal. He will entice Nigerians with juicy national development plans including infeasible promises.

Atiku is a socio-politico and a super-ambitious man; he pursues his ‘wants’ with his heart. His interest in politics dates back to nearly four decades ago. Over these decades, he has not rested on his oars. His political dynasty has birthed governors, senators and other top political positions, with himself making it to the level of vice president. He is just an Oliver Twist who wants more. Well, no one should blame him! When typical Nigerian elite rises to positions of rare political power and eminence, he or she becomes superambitious and starts to seek more and more political relevance. Some even go as far as wanting to build political empires.

Notwithstanding his accumulated years of experience and the prowess of his supposed political dynasty, the journey to the 2019 presidential election will be a very difficult one for Atiku, taking into consideration the present realities in the polity and the uniqueness of his main opponent- the incumbent President Buhari who is armed with his cultlike followers, support from Tinubu’s southwest and 23 state governors including an APC that can matched PDP at its games. Nevertheless, Atiku will fight the 2019 battle like no other times he had contested. Love him or hate him, Waziri has immense war chest, enjoys vast political network and connections and he also has a personal pedigree of winning strong political battles and being able to stay afloat in the midst of wild political storms.

Atiku’s opponents are also quick to describe him as being too opportunistic and desperate. They argue that his core reason for venturing into politics is borne out of the quest for power rather than the desire to advance the nation. Observers of Nigerian politics who follow Atiku’s style of politics view him as a man who loves political adventures, often not well-thought ones, especially when it comes to the politics of the contest for the presidency of Nigeria. In his quest to be president, Atiku has made many errors, which have hitherto cost him the presidency.

Of recent, he read his ‘political map’ up-side-down. He ignored the southwest and picked Peter Obi- a Southeasterner- as his running mate. This is a political blunder. Though, some others of Atiku’s political decisions have been excellent and sound. Most of these decisions have brought him to a level of being a force to reckon with in Nigerian politics today.

As Atiku clocks 72, he would surely put in a strong and unprecedented fight for presidency come 2019. After all, the man enjoys hot politicking. Happy birthday Waziri Adamawa! Zayyad I Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State