Atiku, PDP And The Politics Of 2023 Presidential Election -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

As the politics of 2023 General election rages, the task before the political parties now especially the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fielding a capable presidential candidate that will help wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that has mismanaged the mandate given to it in 2015 to steer the ship of the nation. Clearly, the choice of the presidential material should not be based on sentiment or emotion but by clear and dispassionate assessment of the real political situation. In reality taking power from a political party that is wielding power at the center is not wishful thinking; it is much more than mere campaign. It entails realistic situation analysis. It involves commitment and sacrifice if not compromise from party faithful. It requires deployment of resources and effective stakeholder’s involvement. APC did that in 2015 albeit they were insincere and grabbed power from PDP.

In truth, the ruling APC has failed Nigerians so all hope about rescuing Nigeria from the precipice fall on the Peoples Democratic Party as the 2023 general election beckons. And if the party is to succeed in this regard, it must close ranks. The party faithful must eschew bitterness, avoid any form of bickering, avoid distraction from the ruling party, be wary of moles and “confusionists” planted in their fold and arrive at an acceptable consensus and workable strategy. Indeed PDP needs to get its acts together in this onerous task of wrestling power from APC and the first step is obviously getting a capable and acceptable presidential candidate. Already, the South East is jostling for the position, saying it is their turn and if this agitation is not carefully handled it may tear the party apart and mar its bright chances of winning the forth-coming presidential election. There is absolutely nothing wrong in that if you ask me; they are entitled to it. And of a truth, they have capable candidates. But the issue here is about acceptability not just capability or availability. Will the mood of the nation accept a candidate from the South East in view of the IPOB and separatist agitation activities in the region? And if the ruling APC field a South West candidate and the PDP field a South East candidate will PDP still win the election? Obviously, the only way the South East can get the shot at the presidency from the way they are going about is if they get both APC and PDP to present people from South East only as their presidential candidates as it was done for South West in 1999. But, this obviously cannot be possible because APC is a winner-takes-all party. APC will never field a candidate from South East in view of the status of the party in the region.

Admittedly, the people of South East deserve the presidential slot from PDP because of their contributions, commitment and support for the party. Since 1999, they have kept faith with the party, more than other political bloc in the country. They have suffered persecution and marginalization from the ruling APC on account of their support for PDP. They have been maligned and abused by their traducers because they have voted en bloc for PDP in all the elections since 1999. But, the turnout of events shows that they have been right all along.

One reason cited by the South East to back its fierce agitation for the presidency is the issue of fairness. And clearly, if the issue of fairness is to be considered, you will discover that it is the North that needs to be considered by the PDP for the presidential slot. The Peoples Democratic Party was in power for 16 years. Out of these 16 years, Obasanjo (South) took 8 years, Jonathan (South) took 4 years and took 2 years out of late Yar’dua’s (North) four-year tenure. The North had only 2 years out of these 16 years. So in effect, it is the North that PDP should be considered for the presidential slot if we must talk about equity and fairness.

Without doubt, the South East’s shortest route to the Presidency is through PDP and it is by supporting a Northern candidate to wrestle power first from APC. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON) demonstrated this in 2019 when he picked Dr. Peter Obi from South East as his deputy in the 2019 presidential election. If Atiku’s 2019 mandate was not robbed by now Peter Obi would have been warming up to succeed the Wazirin. The South East’s easiest access to the presidency is through the support of the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar.

His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON) the Wazirin of Adamawa will do it again if the party gives him the nod as the presidential flag bearer. The party and nay the whole country needs a personality like Atiku at this time of our political logjam to rescue the nation. Nigerians need a statesman with clout and wealth of experience to steer the ship of the nation. Nigeria needs a patriot and a nationalist that will unite the country and restore peace and orderliness in the land. Nigeria needs detribalized compatriot and a bridge-builder that will see the country and not his ethnic enclave as his constituency. Nigeria needs an exposed and updated personality that will put the country on a global map again. Nigeria needs someone that will restore our lost glory and make us take our rightful place in the comity of nations. We need a seasoned administrator that will make the Nigeria walk and work again. Nigeria needs someone who is capable and acceptable across the nation to lead the nation. Nigeria needs one who is tested and trusted. Atiku is a politician with a difference. He is selfless and courageous. He is never afraid to speak truth to power. His loyalty is to the nation and the people. He identifies positively with the grassroots and the vulnerable.

I am concerned about my country Nigeria. I am interested in who governs this great country. Nigeria cannot continue to totter on the brink while anarchists hold sway. The country is a comatose state. There are banditry and political brigandage everywhere and political jobbers are having a field day at the expense of the people. Hunger, disease and misery are what they give the people that elected them to power as the dividend of democracy. Nigerians must step up. PDP in particular must step up its ante. There are subtle and clandestine schemes by the ruling party to plant confusion in the main opposition camp to weaken its position. This they are doing by sponsoring pretenders, political pettifoggers and false defectors. All agitation must consider the survival of the nation first. Nigeria cannot repeat the mistake of 2015 if the country must survive.

It is misleading to believe that APC and PDP are the same as some people have touted. They are not the same. Their woeful performance and attitudes have shown that APC is a party of pretenders and winner-takes-all mentality. This was why the likes of Atiku left the party when they realized that the party has nothing to offer Nigeria. Thus, Atiku Abubakar remains the most viable option for PDP and for Nigeria in view of his pedigree, forthrightness, acceptability, sacrifices, sound political philosophy and commitment to the cause of democracy in Nigeria.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK