Abubakar's selection of Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019
election was a right choice.
He also said the public endorsement by former president, Olusegun
Obasanjo had put the camp of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in disarray.
Atiku emerged the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic
Party (PDP) on October 7 at the party's national convention in Port
Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
In an article titled Atiku and the Rise of Peter Obi, Abati said the
businessman has proven himself to be an astute politician and leader.
"As governor, he blocked the leaky buckets. He reduced wastages and
leakages. He led by example. He served the people. He left a healthy
balance behind in the treasury. He was known across the South-East as
Peter the Rock.
"Abubakar has acted pro-actively by quickly putting an end to the
speculations. He met with the party leadership, consulted with other
interest groups and promptly announced Peter Obi. If this is a sign of
how he intends to run Nigeria if he becomes president, then he is off
to a good start.
"In the past week, he also did something else that was clever. He made
peace with his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo. He asked for
Obasanjo's blessings and Obasanjo, wearing his hat as a seasoned
political pragmatist and ebora strategist, endorsed Atiku.
"The speech delivered by Obasanjo on that occasion is an elegant study
in the art of being important. President Obasanjo said he has forgiven
Atiku for his many sins, which he Obasanjo had complained about
previously. He described him as someone who has a knowledge of
business, who is less inflexible and a "Wazobia" man. There were
subtle digs at the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, when Obasanjo
advised Atiku not to recruit only kith and kin and try to run an
inclusive government.
"In the same speech, Obasanjo reminded Atiku of his indebtedness to
the Obasanjo legacy and the need to sustain that legacy. He also set
an agenda for the man he described as Nigeria's president-to-be. He
even said "Insha Allah". Obasanjo in that well-composed speech,
practically killed many birds with one stone in many incantatory
voices: boss, statesman, and letter-writer.
"It was Atiku's second-biggest endorsement since he got his party's
ticket – the first being his victory in Port Harcourt. Obasanjo's
endorsement is particularly significant given the history of the
relationship between both men. To add that Obasanjo has voice,
influence and authority is to state the obvious, and we need to tell
those who argue that Obasanjo has just one vote that they are
politically dumb!
"The panic that this has caused in the Buhari camp is perfectly
understandable, even if the resort to name-calling and abuse by the
president's foot-soldiers may be counter-productive in the long run.
It won't make Obasanjo and his associates change their minds. Atiku's
gain is Buhari's loss.
"Atiku also probably knows that the Yoruba in the South-West do not
always vote as a bloc and that the South-West is far more divided
today than ever. The electoral value of the Yoruba man, Professor Yemi
Osinbajo, who is Buhari's running mate for now, except he changes him,
lies more in his being part of a political group in the South-West,
and right now, even that group is divided; it has lost part of its
grip, and its leader is fighting many political battles of his own.
"An Igbo running mate can guarantee bloc Igbo voting, in Igboland and
from Igbos who are all over Nigeria. The votes may not necessarily be
for Peter Obi as a person but for the Igbo nationalistic interest. The
South-South, still angry over how the Buhari government has treated
President Goodluck Jonathan and others from that region, will also
naturally vote en masse against Buhari. Technically, Atiku may have
locked down the South-South and the South-East and can be sure of
substantial votes from the South-West where his promise of
restructuring.
"I say this because I have heard some people say Peter Obi may not
even be able to deliver Anambra. I say to such persons that even the
incumbent governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA), who has issues with Peter Obi, or David Umahi,
Ebonyi governor (PDP) and chairman of the South East Governors Forum,
would dread being found out to be working against the possibility of
an Igbo man emerging again as vice president of Nigeria.
"In terms of political strategy, it can be taken for granted that the
South-South, still angry over how the Buhari government has treated
President Goodluck Jonathan and others from that region, will also
naturally vote en masse against Buhari. Technically, Atiku may have
locked down the South-South and the South-East and can be sure of
substantial votes from the South-West where his promise of
restructuring resonates well with the socio-cultural and political
elite."
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