From Editors Desk: The Road to 2019 for Atiku Abubakar, ''The Real Change''.

In the aftermath of the 2015 general election, it was expected that the victorious All Progressive Congress (APC) will use its supposed magic wand to build castles in the air for Nigerians overnight but this was not to be as the APC Change mantra was one of deception and deceit.

As the February 2019 General Election draws closer, one can only reflect on the historical events that characterized the election of 2015; the intrigues, highlights, tears, joy… It should be noted that the 2015 general election ended with laudable encomium from Nigerians and the international community as one of the most keenly contested election in the history of Nigeria with the opposition All Progressive Congress Candidate winning by slim margin. It was termed free and fair in some quarters while in other quarters, it was termed rigged and a gang up against the sitting president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

In the end, everyone welcomed the outcome of the 2015 general election as for the first time in the history of the country; a sitting president conceded defeat and congratulated the opposition party’s candidate. This was the highlight of the 2015 general election as it has never happened that a sitting president would lose an election and even went ahead to congratulate the opposition candidate.

One must not forget that the opposition political party; the All Progressive Congress (APC) came on board via a mantra known as ‘’Change’’.  Their success at the 2015 polls can be attributed to the great coalition of some major and minor political parties such as All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a breakaway faction of the then ruling party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) et al.

The politics of the 2015 general election which saw the opposition political party the All Progressive Congress (APC) victorious can be termed as the politics of CHANGE ably influenced by big deflection and cross carpeting from the ruling PDP to the APC of some political big wigs such as Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Musa Kwankwaso, Dino Melaye, Aminu Tambuwal, Samuel Ortom, et al. This big deflection tilted the balance of power principle in favour of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which ultimately culminated in the 2015 general election victory for the APC.

Also of importance is the Olusegun Obasanjo factor which worked in favour of the All Progressive Congress after he endorsed Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who was the then flag bearer for the opposition political party the APC for the 2015 general election.

The influence of the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party which also comprises Atiku cannot be overemphasized in that this breakaway and ultimate deflection to the APC in 2014 tilted the political balance of power in favour of the APC and which in the end played a pivotal role in ensuring victory for Buhari and the All Progressive Congress.

In the aftermath of the 2015 general election, it was expected that the victorious All Progressive Congress (APC) will take over power and use its magic wand to build castles in the air for Nigerians overnight but this was not to be as the APC Change mantra was one of deception and deceit. It will be recalled that one of the promises in the manifesto of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the youths and unemployed in the country was the payment of Five Thousand Naira to all but this was not to be as the minister of information Lai Mohammed openly denied such promise by saying that ’’ The president did not promise such and that Nigerians should be aware that such promise was made by the party and not the president- therefore, the party’s manifesto is different from that of the president’’. Well, to the best of my knowledge, a party's manifesto is same as that of its candidate. It follows therefore that the All Progressive Congress had a deceptive manifesto right from the beginning.

One of the mistakes Nigerians made in the run up to the 2015 election was not asking properly what kind of CHANGE the All Progressive Congress (APC) was bringing to the table.

In 2015, I guess so many people in the country craved for a positive change and not negative but few years on, it is crystal clear that the APC mantra of Change is one of deception and deceit. For example, between 2015 till date, it is more difficult for a common man to have a single meal a day not to talk of having two square meals daily.

The office of the First Lady which was in quote ‘’scrapped’’ was in the real sense of it not scrapped as the first lady still enjoys the luxury enjoyed by all other past first lady.

Nigeria and Nigerians are poorer than they were in 2015.

The exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar has gone up tremendously from 197 naira in 2015 to 360 naira in 2018.

The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) rose to 145 naira per liter from 87 naira

 in 2015.

Nigerians are more divided along ethnic and religious lines compared to 2015 as a result of Buhari’s one sided political appointments into executive and ministerial offices.

Insecurity has taken a total different dimension as innocent Nigerians are slaughtered on a daily basis by Boko haram and a new breed of terrorist known as Herdsmen and which Buhari himself has refused to declare them as terrorist.

Farmers and Herders clash is a daily occurrence as this has taken a toll on the safety of farmers and herders alike in the country.

Hijack of the executive by some cabals; it will be recalled that on the order to suspend Buhari’s Secretary to the government of the Federation ‘’ Babachir Lawal’’ from his position and having been accosted by various journalist to hear his take on his suspension he asked ‘’Who is the Presidency’’? This is an affirmation of such hijack. It will also be recalled that the wife of the president has openly attested to this fact holding that his husband is no longer ruling the country and that it has been hijacked.

The fight against corruption has suddenly become a tool for witch hunt of all opposition parties’ members as members of his party enjoys immunity from investigation and prosecution. In the words of a political analyst, ‘’ How can someone say he is fighting corruption when he came to power on the back of corruption. He said he had no money to contest yet his sponsors where all well-known corrupt individuals…This is laughable though’’.

The failure of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to deliver on their manifesto since 2015 will ultimately lead to their downfall in the 2019 general election with so many Nigerians dissatisfied with their failed system of governance in providing basic amenities for the masses, lack of a focus in governance, disregard for the rule of law, poverty and hunger in the country.

As God will have it, a rejuvenated, more focused and united Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has succeeded in having one of the best, free, fair, credible and transparent political party’s primaries as a preparation to take over power in 2019. The party’s primary for the presidential ticket was keenly contested by different political heavy weights such as; Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Datti Baba Ahmed, Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Dakwanbo, Aminu Tambuwal, Ahmed Makarfi, David Mark, Jonah Jang, Tanimu Turaki, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Attahiru Bafarawa.

Many analyst had previously opined that for PDP to come out victorious in the 2019 polls, it needs a candidate with vast knowledge of and has a solution to the political, economic, socio cultural problems bedeviling the country, one who is detribalized and has general acceptability across the strata of the geo political zones of the country. Hence the party’s choice of Atiku Abubakar; popularly known as mr. jobs and employment.

Since his victory in the party’s presidential primaries, Atiku Abubakar has been endorsed by some high profile Nigerians including the former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The choice of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party came in handy as Nigerians clamour for a change of the APC led federal government in the forthcoming 2019 general election. His policy statement is simple and self-explanatory; he has created a 94-paged policy document to reposition Nigeria and get the country working again. The opening paragraphs of the document read as follows: ‘’ Whilst the elites live pampered lives, the vast majority of the population is trapped in poverty and underdevelopment. The middle class has crumbled under the weight of a rent –seeking economic environment. Few can hope for a decent education; there is not enough jobs; infrastructure and public services are inadequate while basic social security has no real meaning. Too many Nigerians live in fear of violent crimes, communal clashes and savage acts of terrorism. Most feel betrayed by the very  Institutions that were set up to serve and protect them and by corrupt and self-serving politicians.

Indifferent, ill equipped and often brutal security forces and a weak legal and judicial system fuel public distrust of the state and feed into the widely held belief that institutions don’t matter. This must CHANGE!’’.

He went further to indicate that ‘’ I believe that oil is not Nigeria’s biggest asset, Nigerians are’’.

Atiku’s policy statements to get Nigeria working again has set the ball rolling for the provision of basic amenities for the common man, Restructuring, Economic diversification, Agriculture, Jobs Creation, Security, Education, Infrastructure, Power, works and housing, Youth inclusiveness in governance etc.

All these are not empty promises as he has been tasted and trusted. His running mate Peter Obi is also a meticulous and astute personality who has shown diligence in managing the affairs of Anambra state for eight years. His economic experience will be needed to salvage the country from the current economic mess.

Without doubt, Atiku Abubakar will be Nigeria’s president come February 2019. He can get Nigeria working again.