A Bolekaja Presidency (7)
By Reuben Abati

The Bolekaja series

Obasanjo's strategists, and henchmen gave the man strict conditions. He must not hold a political rally, and not more than 20 people (staff and family) could receive him at the airport. Both the President, and the PDP did not want Atiku to turn his return into a political statement. They didn't want him to use it as a platform for the advertisement of his popularity. But that was precisely what the embattled Vice President did. His associates who were closely monitored by security agents, had organised a befitting reception for him.

The same Presidency which withdrew Atiku's aides, official vehicles and privileges sent vehicles to the airport to receive him. Atiku refused to use those official vehicles. He hopped into his personal car - a Jeep, - and staged his own drama as he was driven out of the airport in a convoy of about 500 vehicles (!). The Presidency had promised that Atiku would not be arrested on his return. And truly, he wasn't.

But there were court cases waiting for him, and a well-knit web of intrigue targeted at his person and his political ambition. Since his return, his lawyers have been in and out of courts. Keeping Atiku in the courts looks like a good strategy: to wear him out, waste his time and funds, and thereby weaken his resolve.

Initially, the Federal High Court had dismissed the charges of corruption levelled against Atiku at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The Federal Government appealed against this ruling immediately. The matter is still before the Court of Appeal. There is also a case in an Abuja Federal High initiated by Atiku and the AC to stop the INEC from conducting the verification exercise for candidates seeking positions through the April elections. Atiku's lawyers are seeking a determination of the matter, the Presidency's lawyers are insisting that the matter has been overtaken by events.

There are at least two other cases in court on the question of whether or not Alhaji Atiku Abubakar can remain as Vice President while flying the flag of an opposition party. It is common knowledge that Vice President Atiku no longer enjoys access to state funds. He has been shut out completely. While the Presidency fights him, using state resources, he is stretched thin, paying lawyers, defending his integrity. Increasingly, Vice President Atiku keeps discovering that in his fight with the President, he is required to put everything at his disposal at stake. When the cost of this quarrel is eventually calculated in terms of Naira and Kobo, Atiku may discover that he has lost a lot more, than the other party.

I would be surprised if he has been able to sleep soundly since his return. The Obasanjo camp was clearly ready for a long drawn-out fight. On the question of his defection to the Action Congress, the President wrote a letter to the National Assembly reporting the Vice President. A group of Senators led by Senator Uche Chukwumerije has had cause to warn that the Presidency is planning to use the National Assembly to remove the Vice President. In this matter, the National Assembly which had also been investigating the President, and the Vice President, over allegations of mismanagement of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) appeared confused initially. But it has now found its voice, declaiming categorically that Atiku remains the Vice President.

But the legislature is not the only public institution that has been dragged into the combat. Before Atiku's return, there were protests from the Action Congress, and the Turaki Vanguard, that the Presidency was planning to use INEC to disqualify the Vice President. INEC has since denied this. But nobody is convinced. The Atiku camp had in fact alleged that the verification exercise conducted by INEC, in contravention of the Electoral Act, was conceived to stop the Vice President. Atiku still submitted himself for the verification exercise, but he made sure that he presented to INEC a counter-petition against the PDP and the President. INEC is obviously in a dilemma.

In the midst of all these, there has been much trading of abuse, with the Atiku - Obasanjo feud getting messier by the day. In its editorial opinion of February 6, 2007, NewAge newspaper says it is getting "nastier and nastier". According to the newspaper, the feud "sets a bad example all down the line. It is bad for the business of governance and is God-send to mischief - makers who thrive in such conditions to stoke the fires of animosity for private profit. It is a bad example to our politicians at lower levels."

That the feud is nasty is not in doubt. The President and the Vice President as well as their associates now trade abuses without any reservations. In Osogbo, the President declared that the Action Congress is an "Alliance for Corruption." The AC immediately retorted labelling the PDP "the bastion of graft." PDP chieftains ever-ready with mischief also got into the fight. The Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, commenting on the Vice President, is on record as saying: "It is indecent, lack of depth of morality, vain, uncivilised to want to remain Vice President in PDP government and run presidential race on the platform of another party. Atiku needs to tell Nigerians what he is still doing in PDP..."

Ojo Maduekwe, National Secretary of the PDP has also said that Atiku should resign. But on the question of resignation, Atiku is at best, ignoring his former colleagues. He puts down the PDP and the President at every turn. Three main events in recent times point to how nasty the feud has become. About a fortnight ago, the Vice President announced that the Federal Government has bought arms worth N422 billion to repress the agitation in the Niger Delta.

Both the Vice President and his Turaki Vanguard noted that the people of the Niger Delta are asking for development, not war. The following day, the Presidency disclosed that Atiku has a pact with a mole in the military with whom he is planning to destabilise the country. Atiku screamed that he was being set up as a coup plotter. But the entire country was alarmed - Obasanjo and Atiku were beginning to play politics with the country's stability. What if the militants in the Niger Delta on account of Atiku's disclosure became more belligerent?

The second dramatic incident was the arrival in Nigeria of 12 American journalists who came to interview President Obasanjo and other stakeholders. In his interview with the Americans, the President did his best to portray his Vice President as an irresponsible person. Somehow, the journalists also interviewed Atiku who replied the President, point-for-point. It was a damaging experience for the nation. Is it likely that Nigerian journalists can walk into the United States and have a similar encounter with the American President and his Vice? But in this instance, our two leaders in Aso Rock "vomitted" in the presence of foreign journalists. Atiku later addressed Nigerian journalists at a forum where he again disowned the PDP and the Obasanjo government.

Thirdly, Atiku continued with this offensive on Saturday February 4 when he flagged off his Presidential campaign at a rally in Kano. This event was so well-attended and so anti-PDP that the Obasanjo camp had to summon a special meeting to review the chances of the PDP in the North. The AC Kano rally was perhaps the Scorpion's sting that the PDP needed to jumpstart it. Vice President Atiku got a feedback in extra-ordinary packages. I note with special interest, the disclosure that no provision is made for the Vice President's office in the 2007 Budget. Whereas the President's aides are taken care of, the National Assembly has observed that there is no reference whatsoever to the Vice President.

The Turaki's close associates have also been in the eye of the storm. Ask Governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa State. Boni Haruna is Atiku's man. He was once editor of The Week magazine owned by the Vice President. He is Governor of the Vice President's home-state, and his Deputy before he was chosen as Vice President to Obasanjo. Now, the State House of Assembly has served him a notice of impeachment. What he has done to merit this "garrison assault" on his office is not so clear. What is known is that as in the examples of Plateau, Ekiti; and Bayelsa before now, the EFCC swooped down on the state legislators. The Speaker, Abubakar Abdullahi and four other principal officers were arrested by the EFCC. The aftermath is the impeachment move against Haruna who is conveniently out of the country - for medical check-up we are told.

With the present alignment of forces, it is not only Govenor Boni Haruna that may find one reason or the other to go abroad before May 2007. The Obasanjo Presidency is piling pressure on any one who has ever been seen near the Vice President, or who expresses any opinion in his favour, or who shows any sign of being a strong threat at any level to the PDP or the President's chosen candidates, in the coming elections. The Presidency is claiming innocence.

But there are interesting developments. Saminu Turaki, the Governor of Jigawa State has allegedly embarked on a long, terminal leave. One report indicated that he may not return to the country until after the elections! In Lagos, Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos has withdrawn from the Senatorial race in the Lagos West District. This week, the EFCC released a long list of those it described as "indicted" and "corrupt" public officials. It contains 135 names including from PDP (52), ANPP (35), AC (28), PPA (10), DPP (4) and AD (1). The Vice President's name is the first on the list.

The EFCC says the list is merely advisory but no one is fooled. The general impression is that the EFCC is again being used to malign those who are not in the President's good books, including Lanre Tejuoso, son of the Osile of Oke-Ona, who is so bold, he is running for the same Senatorial seat that the President's daughter wants. Three weeks ago, he was assaulted by unknown would-be assassins. There have been complaints about selective harrassment and political persecution. No one is in any doubt about this. Atiku has threatened to take the EFCC to court. Mrs. Titi Abubakar has also joined the fight - she says her husband is not corrupt! The AC has dismissed the list as nonsensical. The Federal Government has set up a panel of inquiry.

President Obasanjo may appear to be gaining an upper hand in this end-game between him and Atiku, but as the community of victims grows, it is difficult to assume that what is happening will end up quietly, like smoke dissolving into the air. Activist-lawyer Femi Falana has been urging the Vice President to reveal more secrets. Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Dr. Lateef Adegbite and Balarabe Musa called for an end to this "show of shame". Former Provost Marshall of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier-General Don Idada Ikponwen says the quarrel between Obasanjo and Atiku poses "a threat to national security".

I share his view and I shudder: especially in the light of the following threat which has been issued by the Action Congress: "If President Obasanjo succeeds in coercing INEC to disqualify Alhaji Abubakar, the unfolding scenerio will result in consequences that will be too grave to contemplate, and the end result of which no one can predict". Who will save Nigeria from these men?

Robot  Villager

# 1 A Bolekaja Presidency (7) By Reu...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 09.02.2007 07:12

falcon  Villager

# 2 Dear Dr Abati, Nigerians can save Nigeria from these men. All we need do is vote them out and guard our votes. Please let us not worry too much about Atiku’s expenses, our perception of the source of his money, starting from the first 10 million Naira he has does not allow people like us to worry about that. Posted by falcon| 09.02.2007 07:54

akuluouno  Villager

# 3 Dear Dr Abati, Thanks for another in your series of Bolekaja Presidency. Nothing will happen if Atiku is disqualified or even jailed before the 07 elections. Nigeria has seen and witnessed worse treatments meted out against Nigerians greater than Atiku and yet the heavens did not give way. So why the furore over Atiku. He is the VP and there is a sitting president who has more powers than him. It is the mark of a man to know his capability and reach while doing his political calculus or else he may fall into the same trap as the cat which looked into a mirror and saw a lion. :D :D :D Like I said in another thread, MKO has gone, ditto, Shehu Ya rAdua to boot all under Khalifa and yet the heaven remained intact. Baba almost went and is alive today to mete it out to anyone who questions his authority. Nigeria may turn out to be the loser in view of the roforofo but it may be for the better if when all ends it becomes a portender or harbinger of good things to come. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: Posted by akuluouno| 09.02.2007 08:01

Anthony A Kila  JJC

# 4 akuluouno, Haba! Always having fun. Ever witty Ever in the know. I am watching you. I think I am just jealous Posted by Anthony A Kila| 09.02.2007 08:21

Willy  Villager

# 5 Mr. Abati, Why did the Guardian fail to carry Okey Ndibe’s A Tale of Three Candidates? It looks that Emmanuel “Andy” Uba war chest really knows no bounds. It will be a shame that in your capacity as the chairman of The Guardian editorial board may undo the credibility of the flagship. Your publisher may want to tell us something on this, don’t forget the people’s power that forced MKO to apologize to Concord readers after Bishop Idahosa mobilized them against the newspaper, it can still be done. Your not printing said article, the second time this year, not only denied many Nigerians the opportunity of the information, but raises the question of your personal credibility. Thanks for your watery gruel of a Bolekaja Presidency, giving us pap when we asked for yam, we are watching all of you, and one more of your antics and you will hear more from me and many. Posted by Willy| 09.02.2007 09:32

akuluouno  Villager

# 6 An appeal court sitting in Enugu orders the reinstatement of Peter Obi. Breaking News. Posted by akuluouno| 09.02.2007 10:21

Auspicious  Villager

# 7 Ref. Willy: Yes, why did the The Guardian fail to publish Mr. Ndibe's last article, 'A tale of Three Candidates'? It appears you know something that the rest of us don't know, going by the obvious insinuation you made when you said "it looks that Emmanuel 'Andy' Uba war chest really knows no bounds". So, Mr. Willy, what do you know? You further prognosticated by asserting that Dr. Abati's tenure as Chairman of the Guardian's Editorial Board may shamefully "undo the credibility of (that) flagship", and that his "personal credibility" may be on the line - again, for specific reasons only known to you. What, for crying out loud, do you know? Will you be so kind to reveal to us your audience, what you may know or not know about Dr. Reuben Abati's personal integrity? Are you telling us that the Emmanuel 'Andy' Uba war machine has invaded the hallowed chambers of the Guardian Editorial Board? You will do well to answer these questions and more and let our minds rest. I believe you could have raised the issue you raised without sounding so bitter - so personal - in your little submission above. You seem to be issuing Mr. Abati a threat over mere suspicions(?) on your part. Or maybe not. But are you personally in touch with Mr. Ndibe? If yes, has he complained to you, Willy, that his articles are being denied by Mr. Abati? Could this be for some other reason - maybe Ndibe never submitted it for publishing in The Guardian? It is my belief that the Editorial Board of the Guardian excercises some sort of 'democracy' in its decision-making process. I don't want to believe that Mr. Abati weilds some Obasanjo-like power over his fellow board members. Unless you can prove to us your audience otherwise - unless you can tell us we don't know, we might have to believe that your criticism/veiled threats is only informed by personal prejudice. Mr. Abati has been more of an asset to The Guardian and will most likely continue to be so, for his style of writing and preference of topics to opine on, remains the same. Like others who have commented on his latest piece here so far, I find the piece just as interesting as the others. "A Bonlekaja Presidency (7)" - seven long, interesting and occassionally funny series on the feud between Mr. Presisdent and his Vice! All that talk of Yam and Pap just sounds like Bad-Belle yarns, o jare! Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 09.02.2007 11:15

Dragon  Villager

# 8 The harsh reality on ground is that a major and considerable proportion of the electorate is not bothered about the ongoing fight. People are more interested in battling the hunger and overcoming the stress associated with survival in Nigeria than to take note of the damage caused by these politicians and the abuse of constitutional processes. Even the lawyers fighting cases on behalf of the maligned are all running working for their daily bread. They are not bothered about who wins or who loses. This is where the EFCC and the presidency derive their encouragement from. The only hope for restoring dignity to the Nigerian project lies within the National Assembly to wake up to its conscience, forget its greed and avarice for 'settlement' by the presidency, and boot these men out of office via an impeachment. This should not take any longer than 7days - and have the senate president preside over a truly free and fair election process. Other than this, there is likely to be no election coming... and the very National Assembly members who are tail-bearers of the presidency will all be severely eaten by the President they are dying to protect. A word is enough for the wise..... Posted by Dragon| 09.02.2007 11:17

Willy  Villager

# 9 Auspicious, Good questions, I believe gentlemen do not necessary have to dance naked even if they must dance at all. For starters, Okey Ndibe is a paid columnist of The Guardian, that comes with responsibilities and privileges, so the aspect of submitting his work on time or not, or Abati’s democratic discretion on publishing same does not come up. And to your other questions, yes, I know a few more things that I do not have to necessarily write here, I am offering Abati a decent leeway to retrace his steps, raising the stakes much higher will make it more difficult for him, and less productive. I challenge Abati to refute that his refusal to publish said essay citing a comment on Akala & Fayose as unproven that may lead to The Guardian being sued is untrue. I have my information from right inside because I am much closer to him than he realizes. That he is also in touch with some urchins that are writing under the pseudonym of Andy Uba is also very well known to some of us that have taken personal interest in the Anambra debacle. I will name names and incidences if Abati continues in this path of infamy. As a parting comment, I challenge Abati to claim he is not aware of the author of that thrash on leadership that was published under Andy Uba’s name. A word is enough for the wise, clean up your act Abati. Posted by Willy| 09.02.2007 11:48

Iphey  Villager

# 10 =Willy;154414>Auspicious, Good questions, I believe gentlemen do not necessary have to dance naked even if they must dance at all. For starters, Okey Ndibe is a paid columnist of The Guardian, that comes with responsibilities and privileges, so the aspect of submitting his work on time or not, or Abati’s democratic discretion on publishing same does not come up. And to your other questions, yes, I know a few more things that I do not have to necessarily write here, I am offering Abati a decent leeway to retrace his steps, raising the stakes much higher will make it more difficult for him, and less productive. I challenge Abati to refute that his refusal to publish said essay citing a comment on Akala & Fayose as unproven that may lead to The Guardian being sued is untrue. I have my information from right inside because I am much closer to him than he realizes. That he is also in touch with some urchins that are writing under the pseudonym of Andy Uba is also very well known to some of us that have taken personal interest in the Anambra debacle. I will name names and incidences if Abati continues in this path of infamy. As a parting comment, I challenge Abati to claim he is not aware of the author of that thrash on leadership that was published under Andy Uba’s name. A word is enough for the wise, clean up your act Abati. Willy my brother... all I can say at this stage is that in the end, the Nigerian Guardian is a business and not a charitable organization. They are there to break even at the end of their financial year. The Editorial board (of which Ruben is merely the chair) has the discretion on what to publish or not publish. If they decide that it is best to avoid a liability, via Ndibe's article like you suggest it might be wise for them to refrain from doing so. For some reason, I doubt that Ruben alone makes the decision of what to publish and what not to publish in the entire paper. He also has bosses at the Guardian and is also an employee of the Newspaper, so he answers to someone too. Furthermore, I am aware that there is a meeting of the members of the Editorial board which Ruben chairs every Thursday at Rutam House where major decision about news stories, editorials focus and framing of news are decided. It will not be the first time they are refusing to publish Ndibe's article. If publishing Ndibe's article will end up costing the business more harm than good, then it is a decision they will ultimately take for the benefit of the paper, the business, the staff and the company's finances. If Okey Ndibe does not like it, he can do two things: decide to seek another platform and write for another paper, or open up his own Newspaper house and publish what ever he wants. There are many people employed by the Guardian Newspaper and the company cannot be held ransom due to one columnist's article. Opening up the company to liability because of one individual makes little or no business sense to me either! Posted by Iphey| 09.02.2007 12:15

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