Just as Sai Baba/FeBuhari in 2015, Atikulated and its variants are trending. Everything is pointing at what his now-pacified former boss Olusegun Obasanjo called him at the peace parley, “president-to-be,” the same prefix the bellicose Ota Ajantala pinned on Candidate Buhari when the now-president paid Atiku’s kind of visit to Baba Iyabo’s Abeokuta shrine.
The president is now also reacting to peace-libation in Obasanjo’s abode, the same way then-President Goodluck Jonathan excoriated the anointer when Buhari was the anointed. Isn’t everything new the same of old with the political class? Is there anything happening now that didn’t in 2015? Maybe, what will be different this time is the party in power not absolutely ready to leave power and will do everything to stay in it, even when not obviously wanted. Its conviction on power sustenance even when it would cost sleep, honour and immeasurable financial commitment has been demonstrated in Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, with the latter drawing even our international friends into the fray.
But DNAs are different. Buhari isn’t Jonathan and the APC of the president’s dream isn’t one that will watch victory being taken away, if it could snatch it. While Atiku has a realistic chance of winning next year, Buhari has a realistic chance of not making that happen. Something will have to give in-between.
But what exactly is the Atikulated frenzy about? Adamawa golden-boy (more like grandpa) didn’t just happen. Apart from having always desiring the seat (his first run was as a 46 year old, which should be the ideal presidency age), which gives the impression of a long-prepared candidate, the rest of Atiku should not be the best we should be rolling out for celebration. No, he isn’t a felon of any kind. Call him a victim of wicked conjectures and unofficial guilt. But why him and all the stories he permitted around him by his acts and inactions? Atiku is trending maybe because the election focus is shifting from corruption mantra of 2015 to job creation this time around. And boy, he has made a good job, positioning himself as the job president. Who would not go for his kind? In 2016 US elections, as Democrats tried to paint Donald Trump as amoral, he kept mouthing jobs, jobs, jobs, in an economy that looks an Eldorado compared to ours. He shocked the world on election night.
Maybe, it is that perceived power to determine political fate, but considering how disappointing such “before-party” gyrations in the past, turned out, we should be having a solemn assembly now and not a repeat of statements of affliction of 2015. I wasn’t stunned with a trending expression that even if Atiku was caught robbing the CBN, he would still be voted. How is that different from the unfortunate academic Certificate and NEPA bill proclamation of last election cycle? Even the under-pressure president still has a running buzz-line; “put Buhari inside wheelbarrow (as an invalid), he will still win.” That is the quality of following in the land and expectedly the voting mentality. Imagine in a race of minimum of 10 candidates, we have limited ourselves to the two, who should ordinarily not be part of “all the above” option. But that is who we have chosen to be for now, though it won’t take the Almighty anything to side-step the electorate’s blubbering idiosyncrasy and enthrone a new order through a new kind of leadership. But wait, is Atiku by any chance that foolish thing God always uses to confound the wise? If there is divine hand in it, then we can take him as Atikulate and the rest of those wishing Nigeria well, Atikulated.
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For ICPC finest
Sesan Olukile, one of the shining emblems of ICPC investigative assemblage, bowed out days back, peaking at the mandatory quitting-age of 60. This just-go and must-go thing about 60, when one is still so fit, to keep going, doesn’t really sit well with me, but the public service is all about the young too should grow. Before you assume he was a veritable info contact considering our affinity, he was as conservative as gummed-lips investigators come. Maybe he was just being professional. But what our friendship and brotherhood didn’t deliver in roaring banner headlines on alleged corruption cases being investigated (and ICPC has got plenty without being noisome like its neighbour), came and still coming, in torrent of shared goodwill. Bros is a man-of-God, yet a rib-cracker. You can’t be glum around him. He cares when others needed caring for. His listening ear is forever ajar, though impurities aren’t permitted entry. Above all, he loves God passionately, always wary of what life and the devil ruling it, could do to him if he turned back from Christ. I toast to a Lord’s General, praying he will never retire from God’s Kingdom nor be tired of seeking Eternal Life.
Editor Debo’s Note.
Can one get tired of being grateful? Whoever gets into that feeling, will soon experience the distasteful. Being thankful is sweeter than honey when the appreciation flows from the innermost sanctuary of our heart. Last week, Boss, Brother and Friend, Omooba Adebowale Tajudeen Abdulai (a.k.a ENT) added another year. We were all thankful for him and I’m certain he is still grateful to The Almighty God for His many mercy and blessings. His editorial and administrative capacity has been well alluded, but I am here today celebrating his beautiful spirit. I wish our Editorial General numerous years of bliss ahead, praying he will never know a better yesterday. For creating this platform, I say, thank you sir.
Your View.
Your pontificating piece titled “As Unto Thee…” in last (penultimate) Sunday Tribune is highly appreciated. As you correctly analysed it, the sordid acts of politicking in this country now cover the whole spectrum of political process-the gladiators, the umpires, and the electors (who are eventual victims). Indeed, the most unfortunate, most pathetic, about the issue is that those that are proclaiming ‘as unto the Lord’, are not absolved of these untoward acts, as you alluded to in your write-up! These pastors seem to have jettisoned (put aside in the meantime) God’s injunction that His own people should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. They seem to discountenance what the scripture says that what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Shame! Your concluding statement that “something is about giving way” is prophetic. So, he who has ears, let him hear. 08060099816.
Gibbers, Lanre Adewole, thanks to God for your facts in “what men in black didn’t teach Ambode”. Asiwaju truly told VP Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Ambode to shun party leaders and their NGOs’ Coordinators. “Ise ni ki elo se”. We that worked out APC, Buhari/Osinbajo/Ambode victories are now unwanted leaders. God is sorry for Bishop Kayode Williams, Bishop Yemi Fatade and Elder Sesan Oyende for their yet-to-be recognized efforts. The fall of Ambode is traceable to vengeance from Alpha Beta Company. These leaders should not engage the syndrome of use and dump and winner takes all. No one is a saint. 08073887783.
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