The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party-PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has just jog-trotted to become the biggest news item in town, perhaps he’d be the most googled personality on the internet right now.
And the PDP stalwart and his team are no doubt basking on the euphoria of what had looked like a fulfilment, skyrocketing his scorecard, as an advantage, in the forthcoming presidential election which holds barely weeks time.
The man has been able to lobby his way by breaking the 12 years old jinx of ban, by visiting the US, and bizarrely enough, this rather bargainous feat has been strangely celebrated uproariously.
One wonders what had actually informed the unusual wild celebrations for a revered person of a former second citizen who ordinarily should see traveling to the US as a no big deal if there hadn’t been a hidden secret. The American journey which became a landmark victory for the PDP giant is like a backyard for many a Nigerian youth and the fact that the youths form the key percentage of celebrators leave much to be desired.
An insight into the background of what eventually became Alhaji Atiku’s albatross was some certain fraudulent transactions and bribery involving movement of heavy cash running into a whopping millions of dollars into the US and according to the story, the illegal “wheeling dealing” was so massive that it caught the attention of the US Law enforcement agents who ultimately nabbed one of America’s highflying Congressmen who was part of the illegal “loot” in question.
The US found its citizen, the embattled Congressman wanting of the offence and was sentenced to serve a jail term while other co-conspirators believed to be the former second citizen of Nigeria and one of his wives have since been on the US wanted list.
We don’t”t need a soothsayer to know that, a certain “deal” has been made because the US authority would not just penalised and “sell-out” its citizen for a no just cause. Some people are alleging that some of our juicy carrots have been pledged in return for this particular good deeds from the US.
What those in the know are saying is that, aside the fact that, some cool US dollars was invested in form of ‘settlement’ to fix the American jamboree, the “expensive” journey must have also pegged the Nigerian nation for a future debt, to be repaid, once Alhaji Atiku’s candidacy got the nod as the eventual winner of the forthcoming election.
Little wonder his recent confession where he clearly states in an interview that, he will sell the nation’s oil well-NNPC and also makes sure he enriches his friends the moment he’s saddled with the responsibility to steer the wheel of the Nigerian nation.
There’s no gain saying that, someone in the US is the sole beneficiary of this Alhaji Atiku’s famed journey, going by some surprising revelations trailing his campaign style. No sooner the PDP man won the primary election than he signed a million dollar deal with an international publicist, Ballard Partners—a firm founded by Florida-based lobbyist, Brian Ballard who’s believed to be working with the US President, Donald Trump.
And as if that’s not enough, Alhaji Atiku’s entourage was lodged at the US President’s family hotel, Trump International hotel, a clear indication that, the seeds are in place for a soft landing.
There’s a need for the electorates to be forewarned, in order not to be misled to sell their votes in this forthcoming election because we need to reject any politics that tend to bargain the future of our nation for a cheap personal favour. This isn’t a matter of political correctness. It’s a matter of being contented with what we have built which is the power of continuity. Lets all vote wisely for no one but the APC candidate, Alhaji Mohammodu Buhari in this presidential election.
-Jite Usman is an activist and PR expert of international repute
