WHY NIGERIA EARNESTLY NEEDS ATIKU BY ATAMA FRIDAY ATAMA.

Atiku Abubakar GCON (born 25 November 1946) is a Nigerian politician and business tycoon. He was vice-president of Nigeria 1999-2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The reason why Nigeria needs Atiku is not farfetched, it’s simply to tackle the country’s major challenges without which Nigeria cannot realize her full potential. These challenges, which can be summed up into political, economical and educational represents the area of strength of Atiku Abubakar. So, why not fit square pegs in square holes?

It’s no gain saying that Atiku is a business-oriented philanthropist who cares for the welfare of the masses. He has served at the highest level of the civil service, advocates for education and peace, promotes true federalism and was even declared a hero of democracy by Grace Magazine. Isn’t this what we need in a time like this?

To begin with, Nigeria has suffered so much setbacks due to poor leadership. Policies on poverty alleviation programmes don’t reach targeted goals, budgets are poorly implemented and a great number of people feel marginalized. This has resulted in increase in the number of poor people, political instability and insecurities. In fact, Nigeria has been reported to be home to the largest number of poor people in the world and the third most terrorized country following bloodshed by boko haram and more recently, the Fulani herdsmen. All these are consequences of poor leadership and long-term corruption in the country. The solutions to these problems lies in the vision of Atiku Abubakar, who has continually reiterated his commitment on true federalism.

Atiku Abubakar launched the True Federalism campaign in 2017. He has been delivering speeches all over the country inspiring Nigerians on the need to restructure the country. He has been receiving massive endorsement for his stand on True Federalism, the only way to strengthen our democracy and deliver its dividends. States need to be more productive, generating substantial revenue and attracting investors. This implies a decentralized government which would see state performing better rather than solely dependent on the federal government. These truly is right move to structure Nigeria as every region of the country is blessed with human and natural resources. The groundnut pyramids of the 1960s and 70s, weren’t just key to the economy, they were a symbol of wealth and tourist attraction in the Northern Nigeria. Check places like Kano today, those places have become footballing sites. What happened to the Cocoa plantations of southwest Nigeria? We neglected all for oil and became a monopolistic economy. Without restructuring the problem of resource distribution and inability of regions to realize their potential will be difficult. When every state or region is able to develop its own resources, dependency on oil and the Niger delta crisis will subside. This isn’t just a problem of the economy, it is directly correlated to poverty rise, unemployment, social instability and conflicts. This is Atiku’s message on restructuring, true federalism and it’s the only way to the promise land and for Nigeria to regain all we have lost.
The political reconfiguration of Nigeria has impact on the socio-economic development of the country. Agboola Sanni did say that ‘The impression must not be institutionalized in our public life that individual material poverty is the only index for transparency and honesty in national leadership. Indeed, anybody who cannot apply initiatives to create legitimate wealth for himself cannot be expected to create wealth for the country’. If there must be any revolution in the economic sector, it will come from a leader who is business-oriented and an employer of labour. Atiku fits the bill, he has generated wealth through investments in every sectors of the economy including agriculture even from his early days in the civil service. He is the founder of Adama Beverages Limited and a co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad. Atiku is an employer of labour and a creator of job opportunities, his experience in investments in various sectors of the economy will promote development, creating employment opportunities and developing human and natural resources of the country. This will lessen crime rate and social crises.

Education liberates people but unfortunately less attention is given to it in Nigeria. Over 10 million Nigerian children are not in school. What becomes of these children? Budgetary allocations to education is grossly insufficient and poorly implemented. When students leave school, they are usually short of skills to enable them thrive. Industrial strike actions and poor state of infrastructures are not helping matters too. Atiku believes in Education and understand what world class education is all about. He founded the America University of Nigeria, acknowledged by Google as an African center of IT excellence. Investments in education has a role to play in the growth and development in all aspects of the country. In fact universities and institutes are integral to solving the many challenges facing the country. Failure to understand this is one of the reasons for poor investments in education and required infrastructure for optimal functioning of our institutions. Atiku is a beneficiary of education who is willing to ensure that younger generations are not deprived of it. His immerse contributions to educations through scholarships at various levels to the most vulnerable people are a further indication of his empathy for the masses.
It’s clear that Nigeria needs urgent intervention driven by an experienced dedicated and corrupt-free leader. Nigeria needs Atiku and that’s why some groups decided to get his nomination form. And of course Atiku empathy and passion for the people of Nigeria has made him heed the call. But in the end, Atiku’s burning desire to safe the country from its sorry state means that he also need the people. It’s mutual, Nigeria needs Atiku and he needs Nigeria. He needs us all to reposition the country for the greater good.

In his days as vice president the following key areas were noted as achievements
1. He presided over the National Council on Privatization
After Atiku was sworn into ofice as the vice president of Nigeria on 29 May 1999, he took up the responsibility of overseeing the sale of hundreds of loss making and poorly managed public enterprises in the country.
2. Atiku launched the South Africa Nigeria Bi-national Commission.
Atiku Abubakar with Jacob Zuma He, alongside South African deputy president Jacob Zuma in 1991 launched the South Africa Nigeria Binational Commission.
3. He opposed the constitution amendment for third consecutive term for presidency
4. Atiku believes that education should be a priority
The American University of Nigeria (AUN) is a private university in northeastern of Nigeria. It was founded in 2004 by Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president. The school is the only American style university in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In the same vein to foster the education in Nigeria, he introduced the Atiku Abubakar special scholarship offer which is tenable in Nigeria and oversea.
5. He is a philanthropist interested in human capital development
Atiku believes that philanthropy is an investment which has multiplier effect.
He sees development as “the effort to increase the productive capacity of a society, improve the people’s well being and expand the frontiers of freedom, while protecting the ecosystem for current and future generations.
An individual’s success is deemed to be of limited social value if it does not lead to the success of others in the family, clan or community.’’
6. The Atiku Abubakar Foundation for the less privilege
The foundation which was founded earlier this year to represent and assist these less privileged persons who are helpless in other to survive through legitimate means.
On this key highlights, i can say a man who could make all this possible even as a vice president would do better when he attains the topmost seat of power in our beloved country. Atiku Abubakar the best man for the job

My only attraction to Atiku is that he has what it takes to send the dullard back to Daura.

Is he the best amongst all the other contenders?
Of course not.

But what Nigeria needs first of all is a man who can send Baba Fullstop out.