ATIKU IS IT, AS NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM SOLVES THE BABANGIDA QUESTION!

 

As the Northern Elders Political Forum finally helps Nigeria resolve the Babangida question and consign him permanently into the dustbin of history of a president wanna-be who never became one; and nominates Atiku Abubakar as their choice consensus candidate, Icheoku says what a beautiful masterstroke. With the evil genius and all the nightmare associated with the possibility of his ever coming back to power now finally rested and forever gone, Nigerians no longer have to contend with that heinous option.

Now that Abubakar Atiku has been chosen as the Northern consensus presidential candidate, Icheoku says it is about time for the whole south to also produce their own southern consensus presidential candidate or officially adopt Goodluck Jonathan as that candidate, so that the battle for supremacy between the north and the south can finally begin and be resolved once and for all. Admitted however  that Icheoku would rather the PDP's gentleman's agreement on zoning be respected and President Jonathan not run; but since he has stopped Babangida by forcing the north into this consensus option, we think his job is done and he can now back down and let Atiku reset the Nigeria button. Atiku would have naturally followed after Obasanjo but for the deity of Otta who was not gentlemanly enough to respect an understanding earlier reached. Jonathan can still do it and be the instrument that God used to restore fate in Nigeria oneness and right the wrongs of Obasanjo.

But should his advisers egg him on and Jonathan persists, he might loose at the convention since Atiku is a more astute political player than the greenhorn Jonathan. Atiku sure do have some fence-mending to do with a lot of people on his way to Aso Rock such as Obasanjo, Orji Uzor Kalu, Jubril Aminu, Muritala Nyako, all Obasanjo boys, and the Hausa/Fulani people of Northwestern Nigeria who always look down on Atiku's people of Northeastern Nigeria as bastards (hausa-bakwais) - a mountain of obstacles for him to surmount in order to get into Aso Rock. Icheoku knows for certain that it is going to be one heck of fight to finish, a tag-team sought of fight with Team Obasanjo/Jonathan led south battling it out against Team Babangida/Atiku led north. Icheoku can't wait for this mother of all fights to finally determine who really controls Nigeria to begin in order to see if the Nigerian question could be somehow resolved too just like Babangida's.

The battle as pitched now between the north and the south-south will only be won with the help of the Middle-belt and the Southeast people, who now have and control all the aces; and will also make the best and most beautiful brides of 2011. The north has a presidential candidate in Atiku so Sambo's vice presidency might no longer be of special interest to them. The southwest will sure go ACN barring any major rigging since it has been their tradition to sustain the opposition once they are not in charge. The south east has no dog in the fight presently likewise the Middle-belt. Jonathan is from south south and Sambo is from northwest while Atiku is from northeast. It is a fight that will be determined largely by who lands the vice presidency of Atiku, whether Atiku will agree to do one term and what he is offering the Igbos for their support, including support for their 2015 presidency. Once the north do their home-work and give the vice presidency to a notable Igbo person, it will be deja vu 1978 all over. President Jonathan has proved that he cannot be trusted with power and such opportunist might not be a preferred partner needed for the Igbo project 2015; but what is Atiku bringing to the table?

In the final analysis, if Atiku wins the PDP primaries, he will have Buhari to content with in the final election 2011; but the odds always favors the party in power except an angry loser incumbent decides otherwise. If Jonathan scratches a victory, then it is going to be a real tough up climb for him against a formidable Buhari in the north with a possible running mate in Bola Tinubu from the southwest. Luckily a northerner is the INEC chairman so who knows where he might align himself at the opportune time; as politics is always about interest and not loyalty. One other good thing coming out of this northern consensus thing, aside of burying Babangida aspiration is that it shows the political maturity of the north, who faced with a motley of candidates managed to come together to resolve the issue amongst themselves peacefully. Icheoku hopes the Igbos of southeast will copy this example when it comes their turn in 2014 to chose their candidate. To Jonathan and Atiku, Icheoku says let the battle for the hearts and minds of PDP delegates begin and begin in all honesty! But one more thing, there should be a meeting and agreement between Jonathan and Atiku's team to respect the outcome of the primaries and support whoever wins and eventually fly the flag of the party in the general election.