ATIKU’S PROFITABLE VISION

Staff writer Ahmed Aliyu, examines the rising profile of APC Presidential candidate and former V.P Alhaji Abubakar Atiku among some electorates across the geo-political divide in the country and his recently released draft policy.

Ask Solomon Ogboh, a 36 year old indigene of one of the states in South- south  Nigeria why he wants Atiku Abubakar as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the first thing he is sure to tell you is the famous generous character of the former number two man in  the country. The ‘Atiku’s’ windfall’ they call it.

 And believe it, Solomon is not just the only one with this view, many Nigerians cutting across all the geo-political regions subscribes to this outlook.

The Nigerian political history no doubt will not be in full compilation without the name:     Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Nigerian Vice-President and undoubtedly the most popular and undisputable number two man since Nigeria Independence. 

He is widely acknowledged to be one of the champions of democracy in Nigeria and a strong political force; credited with bringing about some landmark judicial rulings in the country’s political system. It was he, who boldly fought his then boss, former President Obasanjo on his unconstitutional third term bid and also thwarted his unconstitutional and vindictive effort to have him removed as the then vice president.

 “Atiku is the only candidate that can solve the current economy problem of this country. He his rich, so he is not after money. He has the international collection and most importantly he his generous. What this country need at this critical moment is a generous, rich and well connected President. “Solomon summed it up with a confident grin.

Collaborating this disposition, Mary Alade a Banker from the southwest says only the Turaki Adamawa ,as the former vice president is popularly call, can chase the ruling People’s Democratic Party out of office.  “Atiku has the money. He has the knowledge and political manifesto to chase the PDP out of Aso Rock in 2015.’’

For Salisu Umar, Atiku’s Presidency would solve the current lack of cash-flow in the country and also create more jobs through his years of experience as a reputable business man.

  Eche Ugo is another great fan of the former VP as attested to on her FACEBOOK post. “Your Excellency you have overtime showcased the parent, Democrat and progressive that you are. Your own politics is different and typifies what our future desperately needs. It is beyond ethnicity, it is beyond politics, you're not just a good leader but also a great person. I wish you the best in your entire endeavour; I'm a big fan of yours. “

While these views are in part a strong endorsement of the Turakin Adamawa few are not. Like Bassey Isoh whose FACEBOOK post suggested that Atiku should throw his rich support behind another candidate. “ Hello sir, with all due respect am sure you would have known or being told that majority of Nigerians want Buhari...You can do a great sacrifice to Nigeria by throwing your resources behind Buhari, God bless you as you do this great sacrifice for country.’’

But why does the name Atiku tickles?  Perhaps no one summed it better than Garba Shehu his professional and loyal media adviser in an interview granted popular online publisher Premium Times in 2013, on his relationship with his boss.

’’He is a man who shoots from the hip. He is not a pretender. He speaks his mind as he deems fit and you know yourself that truth and politics don’t always mix. There are times he speaks and you literally have to put your heart in your mouth. There is always tension with us because Turaki will depart from the written script at public events and tell you what is on his mind.’’

Indeed, this is another popular attribute of the charismatic Atiku noted during the course of this article: a straight shooter with no malice. ’’Those who know Turaki’s modus operandi will say that he is not a man who bandies about sack threats. There was never such an incident. What I find most fulfilling in the work I am doing for him is in the fact that he is trusting and has respect for my professional judgment. He respects my professional decisions all the time, in the same way I respect him as a guru politician. Politics is his specialty and I give the hats to him.’’ Garba Shehu further revealed.

Yes, take it or leave it, Atiku Abubakar is a political specialist with a dream to turn around the fortune of this rich nation and this he has already unveiled through his draft policy, with a vision to create a modern profitable government where the private sector will lead the way to economic revival.

The former Vice President while unveiling his policy agenda said he would use the instrumentality of tax rebates to encourage the private sector to create jobs. According to him “A lot of time people have asked me if my strategy of using tax rebate as a tool for private sector job creation will not reduce the income coming from government.

“My answer is that those people who will be employed in the jobs that are created will be taxable as well and thus government is even going to make more money. The way to run a modern government is to run it as a business. If you do not know how to run businesses, you certainly don’t have any business running government,” Atiku said. Speaking further  “the draft policy was drawn up within the context of the manifesto of the APC and the document provides an overview of our policy position – the main thrust of which is the explicit bid to modify the way the machinery of the Federal Government works.”

The draft policy contains key policy areas which include employment generation and wealth creation; infrastructure and power; education and skill acquisition; security; citizenship and governance; agriculture and food security and Niger-Delta and North-East re-integration.

 Part of the appeal of the Atiku’s policy is the fact that there is provision for sub-components that make allowance for broad inclusiveness which will make the policies have direct impact on ordinary Nigerians.

In the specific area of energy and infrastructure, which are among some of the biggest challenges militating against the proper development of the country, the Atiku draft policy says government will, “create sustainable funding structures to drive infrastructure and power development; invest in local government capacity to develop and expand infrastructural provision and review the federation account and restructure government finances to boost infrastructure development.”

In the area of security, the draft policy promises to: “aggressively combat the scourge of terrorism and insurgency by increased resources and better co-ordination between the security agencies; replace the security adviser with a National Security Council; improved civil-military relations; pave way for the establishment of state police and clarify local government and state boundaries to pre-empt and defuse inter-communal conflicts.”
Whatever way the political pendulum of this great country decides to swing at the end of the day, the name and image of this political gladiator would remain imbibe in the political landscape of the country for a long-time.