Atiku, you fought a good fight

The former  vice  president put up a good fight in the just concluded general elections, where he contested the Presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  Over the years, he has proved to be a dogged democrat. This time around, he trudged on, notwithstanding the enormous challenge he faced, especially from the […]

The former  vice  president put up a good fight in the just concluded general elections, where he contested the Presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  Over the years, he has proved to be a dogged democrat. This time around, he trudged on, notwithstanding the enormous challenge he faced, especially from the people of Adamawa State, especially the elite, most of whom were not with him in the fight.

It is sad that a lot of the elite in his home state were not with him, and that is not good because they were supposed to have rallied around him.

Atiku has been present on the political landscape of Adamawa State for quite a long time, and in the course of the period, he has empowered many people.

He initiated a lot of projects in the state; things that are beneficial to the people, such as roads and upgrading of the Yola airport to an international status. Today, pilgrims going for hajj and Jerusalem from this part of the country take off directly from Yola. He was also instrumental to the setting up of the Federal Medical Centre,Yola. It is worth mentioning that the former vice president touched the lives of many people in and outside the state. Some of these people are today, owners of flourishing businesses across the state and country.

Unfortunately, many people have refused to acknowledge the contributions he made to the state  while he served as vice president.  In the last elections, the minds of the people were polluted by selfish individuals who have nothing to offer the indigenes.

The ignoble role played by some people to thwart the chance of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, after benefiting from him, did not go unnoticed.

I will say the people of Adamawa State who refused to support the former vice president shot themselves in the foot, and if  we continue like this, we will never be able to come together to support one of our own for public office in future.  This pull-him -down syndrome must stop if we are to make any progress.

I also urge the former vice president to learn from this experience.  He should draw the line in his relationships.  He also needs to severe his relationship with some political actors, especially those who betrayed him. He should concentrate on expanding his businesses, rather than waste his time and wealth on  people who do not appreciate him.

Polling 11,262,978 votes against an incumbent president is a good outing, and I say well done. I also commend you for choosing to go to court instead of fomenting trouble; that is the way of democrats. Let us pray for a peaceful governorship and House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold next week. Let all the actors remember that politics is a game of numbers and not a do-or-die affair.

 

Usman Santuraki wrote from No.2 Santuraki Close, Jimeta-Yola.