As chase for 2019 presidential seat intensifies, I have every reason to quite disagree with Atiku’s “I’ll do only single term, if I’m elected President”.
This is because, usually, our politicians don’t give deference to promises. Most of them break promises without considering its dangerous implications in the future. President Muhammadu Buhari too made the same pledge and shredded it into pieces like a sheet of paper. In the first place, I must admittedly say, I quite agree with some of Atiku’s submissions in the recent interview. He rightly captured it when he mentioned unemployment as Nigeria’s most worrying problem, but absolutely wrong by desecrating N-Power. Same time when 2017 N-Power beneficiaries are clamouring to be absorbed into the federal government civil service, Atiku was heartily wasting energy to demean the initiative.
Again another point that Atiku Abubakar scored low in my mark sheet was, his saying that corruption, insecurity are no longer Nigeria’s number one problems. Absolutely false. Atiku delisted insecurity as Nigeria’s problem, and at the same time speciously said “terror has spread nationwide”. Funnily enough. Though I welcome every move to subject Buhari’s government to a constructive criticism, but Atiku’s highly-personal, and exaggerative analysis of Buhari’s shortcomings are unbearable to stomach. Furthermore, while I accused Buhari for not sticking to his single term pledge, I must at this point score Buhari higher than Atiku.
Again, despite choreographed gambits to discredit Buhari’s administration in cleaning the augean stable left by the likes of Atikus, I see Buhari as taller ahead of all of presidential aspirants. All those vying to be presidents in 2019 held various positions at different capacities. As a result, we will assess them based on positions they previously held. We must also hold them accountable to what they have done in the past. In addition, we must put to question what kind of wealth they have accumulated after holding those positions? Therefore, I repeatedly say, I agree with the opinion, none of presidential contenders can better fight corruption and run government with utmost regard to accountability than President Muhammadu Buhari.
If today for instance, heaven brings better candidate than Buhari, assuredly, I know, people will dump Buhari and rushed to the side of that candidate. But now, I must at this juncture confidently declare, I will rather vote for Buhari’s continuity in 2019 than to replace him with current assemblage of presidential hopefuls. I’ll rather work to continue to live under Buhari’s imperfections than allowed to be ruled by current aspirants. While most of them are still battling to clear their soiled names from corruption allegations, yet, Buhari oversees a government that won numerous accolades in fighting corruption. To be honest, most people are doubtful on whether Atiku Abubakar can fight corruption the way Buhari is fighting it or not?
To borrow a leaf from the former vice president, as he espoused in the interview, it’s a known fact one can’t give what he doesn’t have. As he accused Buhari’s government of inadequate job creation, just because it was peopled by people who never run successful bussines. Nigeria now needs someone who has good records of fighting corruption. If we at the first stage knew former vice president as uncompromised corruption fighter like President Muhammadu Buhari, we will all rally behind him in 2019. Additionally, Atiku, as someone who is competing to be president with Buhari, If I were him, I’ll spend my entire interview reminiscing my previous efforts in fighting corruption.
Abbas Datti, Kano
