Few days ago, a thread titled "2019: 4 Valid Reasons Why Nigerians Cannot Afford To Have Atiku In Aso-Rock." made the front page. The article, written by TonyeBarcanista, made an interesting read and attracted many comments. Four reasons were adduced by the autor to explain Atiku's ineligibility for the nation's top job. On the face value, these reasons sounded perfectly plausible, but on futher probings, they're grossly erroneous. This made this rejoinder imperative to disabuse Nigerians who are being fed falsehoods by paid writers who seem to be on the loose these days. Below are the reasons stated by the author and my rebuttal.

1: LACK OF INTEGRITY.
The writer accused Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of grand scale corruption during his time as the Chairman of The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTFD). Unfortunately, the only evidence put forward by the writer to support his assertion was an indictment by the EFCC and a Presidential Committee. The writer deliberately feigned ignorance of the fact that in the build-up to the 2007 Presidential election, the EFCC became a handy tool for stifling Atiku's presidential aspirations. Atiku, who never hid his ambition to succeed his boss, was subjected to all sorts of smear campaign aimed at making him a villain before Nigerians. This culminated in fictitious corruption allegations. Obasanjo, Atiku's principal, had sought a third term in office through constitutional amendment but was stoutly resisted by patriotic forces led by Atiku.
Angered by Atiku's role in scuttling his third term bid, Obasanjo swore that Atiku would never succeed him. He, therefore, became the most vociferous critic of Atiku's presidential ambition. Despite the myriad of corruption allegations levelled against him, Atiku has not been found guilty by any competent court. In fact, two days ago, The United States Department For Justice said that it had no criminal case against Atiku. This was in response to the lie that Atiku is wanted in the US for financial crimes.

The writer also wondered how Atiku, who came from a humble background, became an extraordinary billionaire despite spending his productive years in the Nigerian Customs Service. It would interest the author to know that Atiku went straight into business immediately after he left the Nigerian Customs Service. As a man who has a knack for making money, he accumulated his wealth through dint of hard work. A little research on the internet would have saved the author this terrible gaffe.

2: TRIBAL SUPREMACISM
TonyeBarcanista accused Atiku of being a tribal supremacist because he was chosen by the Northern Political Leaders Forum as the Northern consensus candidate for the 2011 PDP presidntal primary election. Again, Tonye deliberately ignored events that led to Atiku's emergence as the Northern consensus candidate for that election. After former President Obasanjo had completed his tenure in 2007, power shifted to the North when Alhaji Umaru Yar'adua was sworn in as President. It was an agreement between the North and the South to alternate power between each other every eight years. Unfortunately, Yar'adua died in the third year of his tenure. His vice, Goodluck Jonathan, was sworn in as his successor with the promise that he would abide by the gentleman's agreement between the North and the South by not seeking re-election in 2011. Jonathan, goaded by Obasanjo, broke this solemn promise and took part in the 2011 election. The North was miffed by this act of betrayal and came together through the Northern Political Leaders Forum to safeguard its interest. This led to the search for the most viable Northern politician that would challenge Jonathan for the PDP's presidential ticket. Atiku was found most worthy for that task and was chosen to vie with Jonathan for the ticket. How TonyeBarcanista expected Atiku to shut his ears to the call of his people to protect their interest, considering the dynamics of Nigerian politics, is quite puzzling.
Thankfully, Tonye acknowledged in his article that "We can only be patriotic, not detribalized." It is then a wonder that his assertion went contrary to the quoted statement.

There are few Niigerian politicians who are as patriotic and pan-Nigerian as Atiku is. He embraces all Nigerians regardless of their tribe or religion. His list of staff is as varied as the nation. What more, he is happily married to women from different parts of the country. One then wonders how more detribalized can one be?

3: INSINCERITY AND DECEPTION
TonyBarcanista's third reason for rejecting Atiku is insincerity and deception. He accused Atiku of patronizing the electorate with the viral picture that showed him drinking sachet water, pure water in local parlance. I was one of the people who condemned Atiku for such banal act. But I have since come to understand that the picture was taken in one of his water factories. Obviously, it was just a product testing. Isn't it applaudable that Atiku, despite his busy schedule, still makes out time to ensure that his companies' products are safe for consumption? That is the businessman in Atiku, Tonye.
Also, Barcanista said Atiku's recent call for the restructuring of Nigeria was a deceptive act aimed at furthering his political ambition. Nothing could be further from the truth. The call only goes to show that Atiku is not rigid in his opinions and he is highly amenable to progressive ideas. Two qualities a leader of a plural state like Nigeria needs in good measure.

4: WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO OFFER THAT HE CAN'T SUGGEST TO INCUMBENTS.
Tonye, lastly, wondered what Atiku has to offer that he can't suggest to incumbents. As usual, Tonye was quick to forget that Atiku is an adult Nigerian who has the constitutional right to aspire to any elective office in the land. Also, he failed to understand that a man without ambitions is only fit for the grave. True, Atiku has been aiming at the nation's number one seat since 1993, the fact that his passion to lead this nation has not waned is an eloquent testimony to his belief in the inherent potentials of this country. It also clearly shows that his ambition is more than a fleeting desire to be the nation's number one citizen.

Lastly, there is no perfect human, but a perfect God. Atiku may have erred in many instances, it only goes to show that he is a mortal being who is vulnerable to mistakes. His ambition to lead this nation is an expression of his inalienable right to seek the mandate of his people. Whether he succeds or fails is for the people to decide.

Let him rest abeg. Na so Buhari struggle and now that he has finally gotten the opportunity he is bumbling about the place.

Bros all of them na thief including bubu

I will support n vote Atiku anyday....

Which Nigerian politician is sincere?

All this na long talk, unless my sai baba won't contest.
Bubu anyday
Well atiku is a my second option sha....

Thanks @bejeiodus

Tonyebarcanista will surely fall in line at the right.

We welcome everyone on-board the ship (Wailers,Zombies,Progessives) we all need your support.

Even a 5year old kid knows Buhari has failed Nigerians.

Brethrens Together we can do this. God Bless You All


Atiku2019

Kyase:
All this na long talk, unless my sai baba won't contest.
Bubu anyday
Well atiku is a my second option sha....

Bubu has nothing to Offer Bro surely Atiku will be your first option in 2019

Atiku will like Jonathan 2.0

Sibrah:
Atiku will like Jonathan 2.0

How ?

Atiku is a force, we can't wait for 2019 to vote him in..... a sound business man nd politician... tonye can goan kiss a cobra no 1 takes d hypocrite serious

swagagolic01:
Atiku is a force, we can't wait for 2019 to vote him in..... a sound business man nd politician... tonye can goan kiss a cobra no 1 takes d hypocrite serious

Don't worry Bro Tonye will surely fall in line. We All need the support of every Nigerian God Bless

The hustle is real,well I'm just observing the atmosphere for now.next year will determine were one will pitch his tent

Lalasticlala my Brother this thread is front page worthy. Even the Great Lalasticlala is tired of this Incompetent Leader in Aso rock

Lala Kindly do the needful we remain loyal to your Government

Leave barcanista ,he is talking thrash!.if you have one good reason to support buhari,then you should have hundreds of good reason to support turaki.If Atiku should indicate interest, I will support him with everything I have.Atiku is better off than what we have at aso rock ,unless you are deceiving yourself. Atiku for 2019. Live with it!!!

Atiku have nothing to offer, i remember when he said God never answer poor man's prayer and said soldiers are suppose to be farming for the government instead staying in the barracks.

Well it's a choice to vote your choice but for me o, i don't even have voters card and i don't need 1

bongila:
Let him rest abeg. Na so Buhari struggle and now that he has finally gotten the opportunity he is bumbling about the place.

The fact that Buhari has grossly underperformed does not mean Atiku won't fare well as the nation's leader. Both Buhari and Atiku are not on the same intellectual wavelengths.

Kyase:
All this na long talk, unless my sai baba won't contest.
Bubu anyday
Well atiku is a my second option sha....

Baba has had his chance and has fared badly since he came onboard. Nigerians are already counting down to the next presidential election to vote him out of office.

Obinwenite:
Leave barcanista ,he is talking thrash!.if you have one good reason to support buhari,then you should have hundreds of good reason to support turaki.If Atiku should indicate interest, I will support him with everything I have.Atiku is better off than what we have at aso rock ,unless you are deceiving yourself. Atiku for 2019. Live with it!!!

Lies are known to travel far. It is too dangerous to sit and watch this malicious attempt to discredit Atiku.

though am not a nigerian, atiku is 100 times better dan buari dullard.

The worst part about Tonye's thread is that he wasted all his energy on the thread shouting IPOb yoot instead of defending what he wrote. This is how they predicted Trumps loss based on Ipod yoot and were shocked.

Tonye is no longer relevant. Give him a sachet of water and he will start singing Sai Turaki.

Turaki is gradually becoming a movement and he is the best the North can produce NOW.

Atiku2019:
Thanks @bejeiodus

Tonyebarcanista will surely fall in line at the right.

We welcome everyone on-board the ship (Wailers,Zombies,Progessives) we all need your support.

Even a 5year old kid knows Buhari has failed Nigerians.

Brethrens Together we can do this. God Bless You All


Atiku2019

everybody knows barcanister is after his own pocket

Tonye have loss relevance

wowmenow:
Tonye have loss relevance

That guy is so irrelevant, even the oppositions(APC) don't trust him. Hes struggling to be relevant. trust zombies now, them no send am

Supported. Front page. Seun.. Mind44 etc.

Atiku2019:


Bubu has nothing to Offer Bro surely Atiku will be your first option in 2019

we shall see

bejeiodus:
Baba has had his chance and has fared badly since he came onboard. Nigerians are already counting down to the next presidential election to vote him out of office.

Mitcheew

Here they come with another northern muslim again.
North must be chairman .

Am a card carrying member of pdp in rivers state, my stand is simple, if d next president must come from the north then it must be Atiku. ..... any other person aside Atiku will be resisted, na so W3 keep quite them carry statue give us say na president.... Nonsense

Thunder Fire Anybody Wey Support Atiku To Become President! Ko ni ye yin!

HOW WE GOT HERE

He ruled from 1984-1985. He banned use and possession of forex and incarcerated many whose guts and faces he disliked, some for centuries. By the end of 1984, Nigeria went into recession and in 1985, IBB kicked him out. From 1985-2015, he didn't improve himself academically or in any way. He didn't have any trust fund or any other program to assist the less privileged. He had the exact same number of cows for almost 20 years, nobody in the history could be said to have benefited from him in any way while out of government. In short, the way he was in 1985 was exactly the way he was in 2015. Progress made, zero.

He was rehabilitated by Sanni Abacha who made him PTF Chairman. Democracy returned back to Nigeria in 1999. He started contesting to be President in 2002. For 13 years, you would expect him to already have an idea of how to move the nation forward. He failed severally till a man of peace, GEJ, conducted elections, the kind we could never have had under OBJ and we probably would never have again.

He campaigned under the 'Change' mantra and fooled many of my brothers from the South West.To the wonderfully intelligent Yoruba people, they yearned for proper change, one they thought would usher in new ways of doing things. And Buhari became President. What they didn't know was that their Northern partners only yearned for a change from Southern, Christian President to a Northern, Islamic one. My supposedly smart Yoruba brothers were fooled by their supposedly, less-smart Northern partners.

And then, the Chief Architect of Change, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is now left with 'RED EYES'. Architect of Change now dumped by Chief Beneficiary of Change.

We warned him, we warned them. They thought we were being sentimental and tribalistic. After campaigning for 13 years and waiting an extra six months to name angelic ministers, what did we eventually get? A dinosaur for Agriculture Minister, a lawyer in Housing, Works and Power Ministry in a nation where you have some of the best engineering brains in the world, the least intelligent appointee ever in Nigerian FG in the Sports Ministry, an lying, loud-mouthed English graduate in Transport Ministry and many more amoebic pegs in indeterminate holes. And like it was 32 years ago, forex was banned and made impossible to access.

And then for the second time, RECESSION happens.

And after trying all archaic methods, padding budget, stealing budget, re-padding budgets and releasing N3.6 trillion between March and November 2016 (only God knows where the money entered), recession bites harder. To curb rising inflation and raise funds,

- they now clamp down on bureau de change operators to control exchange rate.
- next they want to start arresting people and their families and organizations who have dollars and are not spending.
- and they want to start taxing any gsm call that exceeds 3 minutes.

Maybe next, they will start arresting all those who have more than N20,000 (twenty thousand naira) at home or in banks and not spending them. We call these economic policies 'buharimonics'

God help us.

- Ben Chux