Politics

Presidential race 2019: Atiku lays ambush for Obj, IBB

Published

9 years ago

February 9, 2018

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a potential presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the standard of his game to subvert the ploys of some former presidents to frustrate him. The former vice president found relief in the new agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of propagating the Coalition Nigeria Movement (CNM) and the open condemnation of the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The statement by retired General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) against President Muhammadu Buhari also provided the Atiku strategy team fresh clue that both Obj and IBB are united in the new agenda.

Accordingly, the former vice president has laid siege for Obasanjo and IBB in his knew political machination. In his new formula, Atiku reconfigured his political machine to deepen his grassroots networking with fixating message of renewed hope for a better Nigeria.

Besides, the grassroots scheme, the former vice president has also commenced building or aggregation of new ruling elite to complement the governing elite in charting the course of Nigeria political development. The new alignment will be aggregated to end the hegemony of the old generation of retired Generals and ancien political leaders.

Generally, Atiku has been building a new power bloc for revolutionary transition and reorganization of Nigeria. The former vice president has joined the new force of enough is enough, with a vow to lead the generational transition that will bring young Nigerians into government to speed up the development of the country.

Meanwhile, Atiku is yet to declare for the 2019 presidential race but his campaign organization and political structure have been deployed on national assignment mobilizing support for his presidential project.

A pending condition for Atiku in the presidential race is the advice to go and apologize to Obasanjo given by former President Goodluck Jonathan. While Atiku had earlier admitted he will heed to the advice, the new power game is now leading to a probable reconsideration of the decision on the apology.

The bone of contention is an emerging battle over who own Nigeria.

The Obasanjo CNM has been gearing up for new generation leadership in Nigeria, canvassing for dethrone of the old order, which he also belongs.

IBB, in his recent statement, showed his clear support for the new order project.

Atiku and a few others in the race for 2019 president stand in between the old generation and the new generation. The other presidential aspirants include Alhaji Sule Lamido, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, Governor Ayodele Fayose, former Senate Pre4sident David Mark, among others. Most of the presidential aspirants, including incumbent President Buhari, are yet to formally declare for the race but mobilization has been going on.