Whenever the word Democracy is mentioned, the definition that readily comes to mind is that proffered by Abraham Lincoln, to wit, that: “democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people”. And if democracy is for the people, the implication is that the people should be the focus of the practice of democracy. This invariably connotes peoples’ representation, peoples’ engagement, peoples’ interest, respect for the rights of the people to decide who leads them, the use of dialogue and civil means to settle disputes and the rule of law. In a democracy, the sovereign power belongs to the people. Citizens participation, accountability, transparency, political tolerance, separation of power, bill of rights, free and fair election, independent of the judiciary, freedom of expression, constitutional rule are components of modern democratic practice. Thus, the practice of democracy breeds democrats, statesmen, patriots and leaders with national interests and inclination. A democrat should believe in the tenets of democracy and should be willing to defend it. In a multi-cultural entity like ours democrats and real statesmen are committed to the values of tolerance, cooperation, consensus and even compromise or personal sacrifice for the common good. Thus, the practice of Democracy is not for political pettifoggers and anarchists with false sense of entitlement who have no regard for the will of the people.
In the course of Nigeria’s march to nationhood, it has produced notable figures that have made remarkable contribution to growth of the nation. And when the history of Democracy in Nigeria is told one name that will stand out very prominently is that of the former vice president of the country (1999-2007), His Excellency Atiku Abubakar (GCON), the Wazirin Adamawa who has bestridden the Nigeria political land space like colossus in the past three decades. From a humble beginning under the tutelage of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua in the 80s, Atiku has transformed into a great political giant in Nigeria carving a niche for himself as a statesman, a patriotic leader and a courageous defender of democracy in Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar was one of the few courageous Nigerians that fought assiduously to send soldiers back to the barracks and restored democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999; surviving assassination attempt on his life and fleeing into exile in the process. The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) that he led was one of the legacy political groups that formed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Clearly, Atiku’s democratic credentials are underscored by the various sacrifices and heroic roles he played in the fight to enthrone and deepen democratic practice in Nigeria. He knows how variegated the nation is and so he is tolerant of other peoples’ views and beliefs. You cannot hear him make provocative or inciting statements like Buhari and Tinubu or make frivolous assertions like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. While some unconscionable politicians make hate speeches and provocative statements to incite violence and xenophobia, Atiku preaches peace and national unity. Atiku has always shown exemplary and charismatic leadership that has made him maintain followership across every nook and cranny of the nation. His belief in the rule of law, equity, justice, civil advocacy, the peoples’ engagement, defense of the constitution, seeking redress through non-violent means has distinguished him from the do-or-die politicians that dotted the Nigerian political landscape. His liberal attitude and desire to work with people from every part of the country set him apart as a rare patriot and a nationalist in Nigeria.
Evidently, there are many factors that distinguish Atiku from those that grandstand as democrats and progressives in Nigeria whereas they are ethnic jingoists. Atiku is a firm believer in the rule of law which is a veritable tool for democratic governance. During his era as the vice president, he won four landmark cases that has become a judicial precedent, against Chief Obasanjo. He is liberal, courageous and independent minded; one that cannot play puppet for anyone. This is one of the reasons why those who hate his guts fight him. And because of his forthrightness and outspokenness some often mistake him to be overly ambitious and try to malign his person. And Atiku as a statesman has always exhibited maturity and equanimity in the face of extreme provocation, electoral robbery and smear campaigns against his person. For standing his ground against Chief Obasanjo’s inordinate Third-term ambition, Obasanjo spear-headed a smear campaign against Atiku.
Atiku is brave, focused, articulate and people-minded and these attributes are reflected in his words and actions. He believes in civil advocacy and is never afraid to speak truth to power. And his forthrightness and principled stand on national issues have always been misconstrued by his critics and traducers. When he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2017 back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the failures and the obnoxious policies of the APC regimes, members of the APC hierarchy that had always flaunt his democratic credentials cried foul. Also, members of the Northern elders to which he belongs have always chided him for advocating the restructuring of the country. When he worked to stop the Obasanjo’s tenure elongation agenda, Obasanjo and his kinsmen tried to vilify him. And now that he had gone further to prove that the certificate tendered to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, was forged, Tinubu and his yes-men rather than hide their faces in shame are accusing Atiku of working for the downfall of Tinubu; accusing him of biting the fingers that fed him. Tinubu and his men are known for making spurious claims; it is their stock in trade. Is it not ridiculous for Tinubu and his button boys to claim they made Atiku? By the time Atiku moved to CAN from PDP in 2007, he was the vice-president of the country and a foundation member of the party and the party needed him and his influence to survive. So it is farcical for them to claim that they made Atiku whereas it was Tinubu that begged Atiku in 2007 when he contested under ACN platform as the presidential candidate to be considered as Atiku’s running mate to which Atiku declined because he did not want to run on Muslim-Muslim ticket.
A look at Atiku’s pedigree shows that he is consistent in the pursuit of truth and justice. It was the same belief in truth and justice that made him step down for the late M.K.O Abiola when he felt it was just to allow the South to produce the president of the country after a protracted rule by the North-dominated military and his consequent fight against the annulment of June 12, 1993 election. Again, it was for the same reason for justice that made him support Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 when felt the Southwest should be compensated for the annulment of the controversial June 12, 1993 election. It was the same reason for equity and justice that has made him champion the crusade for the restructuring of the country. In 2003 when Dr. Chris Ngige, the then governor of Anambra State was abducted by the political renegades in his state on the “orders from above”, it was the prompt intervention of Atiku Abubakar that saved the situation and restored normalcy in the state. Again he opposed the Obasanjo’s self-succession plan even when he was supposed to be a beneficiary of it because he knew it was unconstitutional.
And Atiku’s suit against Tinubu in Chicago, USA is a landmark case that will no doubt shape the future of democracy in Nigeria. For going the extra mile to uncover Tinubu’s forgeries and crime, Atiku has taken our democracy a step further. Whatever comes out of the case will set a future precedence. No doubt, Tinubu’s Chicago-gate scandal will make our politicians wary about perjury and forgeries in future. Transparency is required from those desiring to occupy public offices and those with shadowy and ignoble past should not be trusted with public office.
The Office of the president is an exalted one that requires people of high integrity and probity, not one with criminal record. Tinubu has desecrated the office of the president of Nigeria and should be shown the way out. Nigerians should rally round Atiku in his quest for the truth and justice. Of course there is precedence in this case. In 1999 when the then speaker of the House of Assembly Salihu Buhari presented fake University of Toronto certificate, he was forced to resign. So Tinubu should be asked to resign or be impeached. It is a wakeup call to fight for the right thing to be done to salvage our nation and our democracy. Tinubu has dragged the nation into disrepute. Nigeria is now the laughing stock of other nations. No genuine investor will do business with a country under the control recidivists and scoundrels.
Gozie Irogboli,
An economist, a novelist and a public policy analyst
The post Atiku And The Enthronement Of Democracy In Nigeria -By Gozie Irogboli first appeared on Opinion Nigeria.
