I have been observing the recent moves by a former Vice President of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is also a veteran aspirant for the office of the President. Atiku Abubakar has suddenly shifted from his subtle campaign for President to what seem to be like an almost direct campaign for the number one seat in the country. In the Social media, some sycophantic groups and individual with inspiration from their stomach have been making noise by endorsing the Turaki Adamawa-perhaps, with expectation of gratification "when the time comes".

While I am not against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to exercise his right to aspire for the office of the President in 2019 or any office in Nigeria, I have the responsibility as a young man, a patriot and a youth leader in my own right to enlighten Nigerians and eligible voters about Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's candidacy (just like I would to any other aspirant for the office).

I shall give some reasons why Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is unfit to occupy the office he is aspiring for;

1. Lack of Integrity:
During the period when he was the Vice President of the country, Atiku was appointed to chair the Petroleum Technology Development Fund by the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. As Chairman of Petroleum Training Development Fund(PTDF), Atiku lodged over $30million and $164 in Trans International Bank and Equatorial Trust Bank respectively from the account of PTDF according to EFCC's forensive indictment in 2006. In fact, 'loans' that yielded interest as high as 15% to the banks were collected from the said banks by Atiku and his proteges AFTER PTDF millions of dollars has been lodged with the illegal account. It was all business! When the deal was busted in 2006, Atiku simply said that he 'kept the monies for safe-keeping' and even claimed that he deserves commendation. He brought back the PTDF "capital" that he put in private account and benefited hugely from it.

Atiku Abubakar was indicted by EFCC, Senate, and a Presidential Committee. He is yet to clear his name. As usual, a court that he went to never discussed whether he was innocent or guilty, but simply said the FG Committee lacks power to investigate and indict Atiku Abubakar because they weren't courts. You may look these for reference. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6402241.stm
www.saharareporters.com/2006/09/24/objatiku-scandal-what-efcc-failed-disclose-thenewssaharareporters
www.saharareporters.com/2007/02/28/breaking-news-ptdf-scandal-senate-indicts-obj-atiku-impeachment-motion-looms

It is a shame that we are in a country where we forget easily. Otherwise, how could sane Nigerians be asking for Atiku's Presidency when Nigerians in unison were asking for him to come out clean as for back as 2006.

Apart from the PTDF, Nigerians are yet to understand how Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from a humble background became an extraordinary billionaire despite the fact that most of his productive adult life was spent in the Nigeria Custom Service.

There is also an indictment on Atiku in the USA, I am yet to see him take up the challenge to take a trip to the United States as requested by exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo in 2014.

2. Tribal Supremacism:
One of the challenge of President Buhari's administration is that he is more aligned with his brothers in the north than with the rest of the country, hough Buhari has never hidden where is primary loyalty lies (his north). While many think Atiku is detribalised (we can only be patriotic and not detribalised anyway), the bare truth is that Atiku is a northern supremacist that believe that his northerners should always align with their own. Unlike Buhari, Atiku is pretentious about his- but his sin shall find him out.

In 2010, in their bid to stop Goodluck Jonathan from seeking the ticket of PDP in the 2011 Presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, Aliyu Gusau, Gen IBB and Bukola Saraki(now Senate President) all submitted themselves to Adamu Ciroma led Northern Political Leaders Forum to come up with a consensus NORTHERN candidate to upstage Southern Goodluck Jonathan. Atiku was eventually chosen as the eventual "northern candidate" over Saraki, who wasn't considered "northern enough" by the Ciroma led Forum. Atiku led a campaign in the north that he christened "Naka Sai Naka" meaning "Northerners go for your own".

The record is there for all to see http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12193681

3. Insincerity And Deception:
Atiku is a very wealthy man no doubt, but of late we have seen a picture of him drinking sachet water aka pure water. When did Atiku start drinking such? Who is he trying to deceive? We won't forget the N40 sacthet Milo/tea gimmicks that the Buhari campaign employed to deceive gullible Nigerians into believing that he was a "poor man". We won't forget the "akara" frying stunt of Mrs Aisha Buhari during the electioneering period in 2015. We should realise that when politicians are desperate, they take to any act just to impress and deceiving the gullible into giving them their votes. #NeverAgain should we be falling for such. It amounts to deception in the part of the elite to continue to use such gimmicks.

Also, Atiku has been making case for federalism and stuffs, but in ALL his years in Aso Rock as VeePee, he never initiated nor suggested such. In fact, Atiku was a very powerful VeePee between 1999 and 2003, as he was in charge of home-front while Obasanjo was travelling the world, yet he never thought of any pro-Federalism/restructuring policy. It is true that he fought against the third term agenda of Obasanjo, but we all know that he did it so that he can be able to succeed the president in 2007- he didn't do it for Nigeria.

4. What Does He Have To Offer That He Can't Suggest To Incumbents?
Atiku is part of the political system in Nigeria. In 1993 he ran for President, but lost to MKO Abiola in the Social Democratic Party primary election. In 2007, he ran for Presidency under Action Congress, but lost to Umaru Yaradua of PDP, and coming behing ANPP's General Buhari. In 2011 he ran for Presidency and lost to Jonathan in the contest for PDP ticket. In 2014, he ran again but lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the APC primary, coming behind second placed Rabiu Kwankwaso. Now he is eyeing 2019! What is Atiku looking for after serving as Vice President for eight years? What did he forget in the villa that he wants to go back to get?

Atiku is already 70, he will be 73 in 2019, he is not an outsider of the system (like the American Trump), what does he have to offer that he couldn't offer as VeePee? What stops him from sharing his "developmental" ideas to the incumbents since 1999 (considering that he was always in the incumbent parties)? What stops Alhaji Atiku from grooming younger, smarter and intelligent politician for the plum job?


Like I said earlier in my first paragraph, I am not against the right of Atiku to seek office, but I am against the idea of him becoming President. Nigeria cannot afford to continue to rotate failures and grannies. We need generational shift in leadership, we need to retire the system elite and bring him visionaries in 2019.

Nigeria has to be great for our own good, and we must make it great!



May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria

Shared on Palmchat

By 2019 it is either Atiku or my hero Goodluck Ebele Jonathan returning for the Presidency seat. One Atiku or GEJ is far better that a million gworo chewing ajala kunu drinking dullard leading us without an WAEC Certificate

If the president must come from the North, Atiku is the man.

nwabobo:
If the president must come from the North, Atiku is the man.

Is it that some of you are used to aligning with failed projects? How can a sane Nigerian ask for Atiku?

EgusiSoup:
By 2019 it is either Atiku or my hero Goodluck Ebele Jonathan returning for the Presidency seat.

Lol your hero belongs to the past, he isn't coming back! Atiku same

A failed man always spewing thrash

[s]

OZAOEKPE:
A failed man always spewing thrash

[/s]Always read and make intelligent contribution even if you don't like the messenger. Stop being a troll


PS: I write to inform and enlighten, not to entertain or please trolls

@ OP, A TWO-FACED KNIFE. TOMORROW YOU'LL CREATE ANOTHER THREAD POURING ENCOMIUM AND EULOGIES ON ATIKU TELLING US HE'S THE BEST THING TO HAVE HAPPENED TO NIGERIA WHEN OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES EVENTUALLY EMERGE. WE KNOW YOU.

[s]

JEREMYBENTHAM:
@ OP, A TWO-FACED KNIFE. TOMORROW YOU'LL CREATE ANOTHER THREAD POURING ENCOMIUM AND EULOGIES ON ATIKU TELLING US HE'S THE BEST THING TO HAVE HAPPENED TO NIGERIA WHEN OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES EVENTUALLY EMERGE. WE KNOW YOU.

[/s]iPod Yoot... Argue intelligently or swerve! IS that too much to ask?

nwabobo:
If the president must come from the North, Atiku is the man.

i agree with OP, is Nigerian youths brain drained or something? How can a sane person consider Atiku or his likes for presidency?

gullible eastern youths can't know all these
I don't know whether it's 2Gb memory chip they have in their skulls

nice one op

Yoshy:
i agree with OP, is Nigerian youths brain drained or something? How can a sane person consider Atiku or his likes for presidency?

That is the point.

Nigerians will never learn. I knew it was political, when he was shouting 'Restructuring'. I Still Dont know the power hungry Nigerian politician like Atiku that will want lose his presidential power to the various regions.

OP has said it all...... Atiku can never be trusted

I wont be surprised he becomes president. Nigeria is cursed with bad leaders

Spidermon:
I wont be surprised he becomes president. Nigeria is cursed with bad leaders

For where? Which President? maybe the President of IPOB... He can't rule Nigeria!

I agree with the op to a large extent. I've argued severally with people when Buhari said he couldn't afford nomination form, when Aisha was on the street with akara, when Osinbajo was Sipping his tea with cowbell milk, when Jonathan wore full pledged northern agbada, etc. It's all gimmicks, and we fall for it squarely.
The youths should have been the spearheads of a better tomorrow (no one should even think or reason we're not been given the chance to lead when all we do is insults based on religion, tribe, party, defending those who rob us of our future and lots more). We could do better. Enlighten ourselves. Empower ourselves. We can make a difference no matter how small it might be.
A fresh candidate, preferably not old, will do.

TonyeBarcanista:
[s][/s]Always read and make intelligent contribution even if you don't like the messenger. Stop being a troll


PS: I write to inform and enlighten, not to entertain or please trolls

you that need egunje to dance, you nobody on nairaland.

..

JEREMYBENTHAM:
@ OP, A TWO-FACED KNIFE. TOMORROW YOU'LL CREATE ANOTHER THREAD POURING ENCOMIUM AND EULOGIES ON ATIKU TELLING US HE'S THE BEST THING TO HAVE HAPPENED TO NIGERIA WHEN OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES EVENTUALLY EMERGE. WE KNOW YOU.

you should know his kind of being, same person they paid his tf to abia state, only for him to back-stab his helper.

once this man receive alert from atiku's aides, you will be amazed the way he will defend him like FFK did with GEJ. he is using his talent to generate income while using NL

dunkem21:
Crap .. Atiku is qualified for the top job.
Shebi him contest primary under APC? . .
He is sharp abeg.

2015 election was held about 20 months ago and you are yet to get over it? Bro you need Jesus!

I am against Buhari's reelection but his replacement CANNOT be Atiku or any of his likes.

OK, ATIKU VS BUHARI..

*Like for Atiku, *Share for Buhari..

Sometimes I wonder how these ipad yoots reason, someone that came a distant third in apc primary is the person they now consider their messiah after tagging all northerners as evils

femicyrus:
once this man receive alert from atiku's aides, you will be amazed the way he will defend him like FFK did with GEJ. he is using his talent to generate income while using NL

To your kind like the person above you life is about sycophancy and stomach hustling. But not to me

We are parallel lines

This ex blogger always trying to be patriotic. baba must rule till 2023 whether Atiku is a man of integrity like Pnb or as corrupt as you wrote.

..

Apart from late yar'adua ,Nigeria hasn't been blessed with good leaders, from Obasanjo TO Buhari, we always complain, we need fresh air, technocrats, not all these recycled old men, whose aim is to enrich their generations, how can a politician who was relevant 30 years ago still be dictating to us? and you expect Nigeria to move forward,
I really pity the youths of this nation,a nation where nairabet and MMM, is the youths source of revenue, and no tangible program in sight, yet we come on Nairaland to insult ourselves over people that don't care if you exist!

dunkem21:


I have moved on bro.. the day Trump won.

Atiku is OK abeg, abi na El-Rufai you want?

that guy has lost touch with reality, he needs to get off nairaland.

Nigerians have shallow or rather short memory about past records but out of share stupidity and orthodox reasoning, they always go for someone who will obviously fail as the handwriting is written boldly on the wall.

Atiku being an old cargo should forget about contesting for any political office. Aside his old age, he lacks the leadership skills to rule and it's even clear as crystal that he wants to have access to free money just like what other presidents have enjoyed.


I am tired of seeing these recycled bin nitwits. Enough is enough!

Nice one tonyebarcanista.

chigoziri2403:
Apart from late yar'adua ,Nigeria hasn't been blessed with good leaders, from Obasanjo TO Buhari, we always complain, we need fresh air, technocrats, not all these recycled old men, whose aim is to enrich their generations, how can a politician who was relevant 30 years ago still be dictating to us? and you expect Nigeria to move forward,
I really pity the youths of this nation,a nation where nairabet and MMM, is the youths source of revenue, and no tangible program in sight, yet we come on Nairaland to insult ourselves over people that don't care if you exist!

Even Yar'adua self get k-leg small

dunkem21:


I have moved on bro.. the day Trump won.

[s]Atiku is OK abeg, abi na El-Rufai you want?[/s]

Must your options always be between crooks? I want NEITHER of them. Never been a fan of both anyway...


BTW: How has Trump victory or Hilary's loss affected Nigeria?