Atiku on the right side of history

Just over three weeks before the February 25 presidential election, it has become crystal clear that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and former Nigerian Vice President (1999-2007), Atiku Abubakar, stands well above the other 17 candidates. The Wazirin Adamawa has always shown a very good understanding of the Nigerian nation, his ability to deliver and his empathy for the weak among us. Ironically, perhaps the clearest sign that Atiku is heading for victory came from the frustrations of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which culminated in his second outburst in as many occasions in the State of 'Ogun. It's like every time the Asiwaju sees defeat staring him in the face, he goes to Ogun State to find out everything, through blackmail and intimidation. When he realized he was outranked ahead of the APC presidential primaries, he went to Ogun to cry, insisting it was his turn to try for the presidency after 25 years of helping others.

It was clear blackmail, and it only got him the ticket because APC is a contraption of weird bedfellows, each thinking of his selfish interest and what he has to gain. Now that the signs of another defeat are dawning on him, Tinubu once again rushes towards Ogun. He blamed his misfortune on the ongoing currency exchange and the fuel shortage imposed on Nigerians by his party. This was another blackmail aimed at Buhari. Unfortunately, for Tinubu, the 2023 presidential election is no longer an APC affair.

Nigerians, not Buhari, hold the ace when it comes to electing the next president, and they seem to have shown their preference for Atiku because of his confidence and ability. The APC has failed to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and hence Nigerians cannot rely on the party going forward. Atiku, in a shrewd political move, chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate. It marked the end of some people's political careers, but they will not go away quietly. If anyone was struggling to understand why Atiku moved to Okowa, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike's childlike reaction must have dispelled all doubts. Despite Wike's reliance on providing a platform for his recalcitrant fellow governors, Atiku refused to lose sight of the main prize. His maturity in handling the so-called G5 Governors despite all the mud thrown at him must have impressed even Wike himself and his fellow travelers. They just can't understand how the Wazirin Adamawa keeps drawing crowds everywhere he goes.

They face a harsh reality: despite their shenanigans, Atiku is heading for victory. They don't know what to do anymore. Should they eat the humble pie by returning to the Atiku Project or dither and become bystanders during his presidency? The decision is up to them. Atiku is now leading in all permutations by savvy political observers. Many of them have since predicted victory for him, and the feelers there can serve as a guide for those who have yet to see the writing on the wall. As the APC house continues to crumble, Atiku is busy consolidating his gains across the country. This is probably why the courageous political activist Naja'atu Muhammad left the Tinubu project where she was director in charge of civil society organizations (CSOs). She refused to join the bandwagon of those pushing Tinubu's agenda for their selfish ends. She told Nigerians the truth as she knew it: that Tinubu is mentally incapable of running the country.

When Naja'atu made her revelations, the APC tried to discredit her. But Nigerians knew better. If she hadn't spilled the wick, she would have remained director of the APC's presidential campaign council. Waziri is poised to win generously in his North East region, made up of his home state of Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe. In the northwest, consisting of the states of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara. Atiku remains the leading candidate even in Kano where Kwankwaso is from. The North Central also bought into Atiku's agenda. Despite the noise made by supporters of Peter Obi from the Labor Party, the South East is at loss for Atiku because the region has always been the headquarters of the PDP. With Okowa as his running mate, South South is the home of PDP. Even the South West, which some concede to the APC, will surprise. That's why Atiku's path to victory is clearer than any contender's. He has spread more than any other candidate having built bridges for over 40 years in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. As many people have understood, Nigerians know Atiku and Atiku knows Nigeria!

Not knowing how to stop him, or at least slow his momentum, the APC is at a loss for what to do. A spokesman for the party's presidential campaign council and member of Buhari's cabinet is trying to get the court to do what they...