ATIKUlate

PUN is the most creative of figures of speech. Twisting words for unintended meanings is the most liberal of writer’s licence. The headline here is just a word. But pun could breathe life into it for multi-dimensional meanings. In plain neologism, it will connote former VP Atiku Abubakar coming into “something” or getting “somewhere” behind schedule. In stretched pronunciation, it will mean excellent capacity to deliver. Oddly, both will find perfect expression in the same man who incidentally, wants to be president again.

In Nigeria and the world beyond our shores, it is a case of who doesn’t know the Waziri Adamawa and one intrigue I have not been able to fix about him is the insinuation he is wanted for some alleged crime in America and he, running the American University of Nigeria, (AUN); a member of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities, with full compliments of American administrators, lecturers and US-supported Boko Haram-returnee Chibok girls in his Yola backyard. Did American embassy in good conscience actually clear those Americans to earn a living from a supposed felon? If Atiku’s American university is truly affiliated to some prestigious American universities in Donald Trump’s conclave, how did such “transactions” pass through the mischievously-meticulous American system when the man on the other side was supposed to be high up on FBI/DOJ most-wanted list? If he is truly needed in America, the global anti-corruption watchdog, and he is currently their “successful” business partner, was it then a kind of cash-backed reprieve? Is money, I mean plenty of it, then answering all things for America? Is this some kind of American wonder?

But why is a warrant not out for him all these while? Why is Interpol not raising the red flag? Why are treaties on criminal-swap not being activated? Too many hanging questions. Maybe we will soon get there in 2019. Maybe, we will never be there because there wasn’t anywhere to get to, even from the very first day the corruption tar was brewed.

Without doubt, Atiku’s political family is home to “heavyweights” in different analogous spheres. From the media rednecks to political strategists, chartered lobbyists to hornet stirrers, he has a knack for spending heavily during political transfer-windows and even when his own go on loans like Mama Taraba and Garba Shehu, there is still no place like “home” for them.

The combination of the known allies of Atiku and the financial capacity at their beck, should ordinarily move mountain of negative perception for the combination of late notorious robbers, Lawrence Anini and “Dr” Ishola Oyenusi, or their latter-day version, Godogodo. And to think Turakin isn’t anything like the trio, regardless of the alleged corruption rumour swirling around him, like the devastating Hurricane Irma and Harvey combined.

But the alleged corruption rumours have been, and still devastating for the big political masquerade. And the credit of the uncontainable spread being given to social media influence, is hare-brained. Social media gained contagious traction less than a decade back. Though the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo where Atiku served as VP brought about mobile telephone and associated leverages like social media, the current trend of everyone turning overnight social media reporter, wasn’t a fad when the corruption allegations began leeching on him. The combined dismantling efforts of OBJ and Nasir el-Rufai began the tortuous journey for Atiku in public opinion court and unfortunately, it is the arena where political fates are determined, even if one wins all the legal battles.

I understand the challenge thrown by him on Monday to his hecklers; provide evidence or shut up. He’s had it to his neck and choking. Unlike France where he who is alleged must disprove, he who alleges in Nigeria, has a proof burden to discharge. On that note, Atiku will be considered infinitely clean of sleaze. At least, beyond the PTDF stuff, which was overruled by court, there is no indictment currently standing against him anywhere today, maybe except for the most critical for his aspiration; the court of public opinion.

How did one of the most effervescent modern-era Northern political and entrepreneurial stars get to this point of requiring a miracle for a badly-needed perception comeback?

Maybe too much of strategic moves have been counter-productive for his corner and politics. As they say in street lingo, over-strategy dey worry am. Too many cooks will also spoil the broth. The idea of defending his probity records whenever presidential contest is around the corner, is equally a bad strategy. Moves like that will always be viewed as a part of election agenda. Such explanations are better made when unintended contextual conclusions won’t mar their purposes.

His traducers have successfully splashed sticky fecal mess for him to clean up and words are likely to remain inadequate as they had been before now.

Verbal efforts, articulate arguments and buck-passing on evidence would become brilliant ideas when accompanied by “doing” efforts.

Today, the most prominent diss is he, avoiding America like a plague even when he has a marital footing there. Why not a quick trip to one of Trump’s hotels for maximum global effects. I am certain an Atiku holidaying in Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, which he can afford, will cancel nearly all the negative perception and shift the burden back to his traducers. At that stage, he can then dare on evidence and trust Nigerians, the Adam Apple of his enemies will become Ben 10 toys, to mess with.

Turaki had delayed a bit on the needful but he is articulate enough to know when to do the “absolutely needful.” Who says he still can’t be president and even a better president than the current anti-corruption warriors. Atiku doesn’t need to boast about how he will tackle corruption. He simply needs to act it. After all, charity should begin with oneself.