Great men are always bad men …… 
There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.  John  Emerich  Edward  Dalberg, 1st

Baron Acton

I refused to comment on the matter of the speculated third term bid of Mr. President until I read Dr. Reuben Abati’s article titled, Third Term: He wont do it.

In my comment, I agreed with him and went further to advice Mr. President to quit in view of the fact that most Nigerians are known not to appreciate their leaders and good people until such leaders die.

However, after reviewing recent articles and public comments as well as the deliberations of concerned groups I felt sorry for my dear country and indeed strongly believe that in spite of my apprehensions about Nigerians and gratitude, President Obasanjo should indeed continue in office for another term within the ambits of the law.

This is a patriotic call and before you label me all manner of names, I will like to state my reasons for taking this position I will also demand fairness in your evaluation of my reasons so that if at the end of the day you want to disagree with me, you will do so in an intellectual manner.

Firstly, the third term bid which started as a rumor was given prominence and space by the opposition. Hardly has any week passed without one party or another or one person or group calling press conferences and issuing press statements on the matter. It will appear that the only thing that matters to opposition is the third term bid/power. The press has been very cooperative in propagating the idea such that any normal friction between Mr. President and others was quickly attached to the third term bid. To members of the press I say BRAVO!

As a human being President Obasanjo can indeed venture to run for a third term if he so wishes. That I believe is an inalienable right and except opposition has already accepted defeat, merely shouting or sensitizing the public about his intention does not count; it does not reflect a purposeful and vibrant opposition.

Secondly the responses to this issue from the opposition are also worrisome. These responses force one to evaluate them and to ask if they are indeed worthy of the position they so much coveted.

Such responses as “ President Obansanjo should speak up” “ Mr. President should have groomed a successor”, “ National Assembly has been bribed to amend the constitution:” etc.

No one has thought it fit to convince Nigerians (except for the constitutional provisions of two terms of four years each) on the need to do away with this government. Opposition is not selling alternative plans to us even to enable us know if such plans are for good or evil.

Thirdly, the public discussions so far on this matter has shown clearly that we have a set of uncoordinated, unserious, planless and visionless political class whose only interest is power.

President Obasanjo’s government has in the last six years engaged in reforming almost all the sectors of the Nigeria economy. Locally and internationally this government has been involved in multilateral and bilateral matters, which have both positive and negative implications on the Nigerian state and her peoples.

Locally, privatization, bank reforms aviation reforms, monetisation, change in tariff structure, ethnic violence and reconciliation are a few examples. There has been no dull moment in the last six years especially the recent three.

It is amazing that no single discernible alternative candidate has evolved. It is interesting that neither individuals nor parties have consistently reviewed the policies and actions of this government with a view to providing better alternatives. Or could it be that opposition is bereft of intellectual and serious minds.

Sometimes I wish I could exhume the bodies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Tai Solarin, Dele Giwa, Adelabu Pekenlemesi, Chief Ladoke Akintola, Chief Mbakwe (remember the bride-price edict?), and professor Wole Awojobi etc. to recreate those intellectually vibrant and sometimes comical moments once again. To quote Steve wonder- “ I wish those days would come back once more”.

I recall with nostalgia, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s famous letter to President Sheu Shagari warning about the ship of state and Baba Meredith Akinloye’s trip overseas to debunk the claims of Chief Awolowo in an intelligent manner even though Chief Awolowo was right.

Do you remember chief Richard Akinjide of the 12 2/3 fame and the educative and scintillating legal battle that almost turned all of us to lawyers? What about Prof. Awojobi’s use of physics to prove that FEDECO’S box was indeed a Kalokalo. FEDECO couldn’t use the box after being pummeled by the professor.

In those days, opposition was actively involved and enriched not only the political landscape but also the intellectual realm. We also had the beautiful bride of the Nigerian politics, the fiery Zik with his tongue twisting English that will make your consult the dictionary every time he spoke. Same for the man of timber and caliber - Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe

But it was not all about intellectualism and education. There were the comical sides.

Pekenlemesi (peculiar mess) was reported to have told electorates that he never ate money as nobody’s father can eat money. That what he did was to spend their money and he brought the vehicle which he acquired with their money to show them. In the east, gravels, sands and cement were usually deposited on the roads close to elections to show the people that their roads will be tarred once they voted for the party. Immediately after elections such materials were usually removed and nothing done to the roads. There was the weeping governor and Alhaji Barkin Zuwo of the students’ unrest fame.

Perhaps someone will tell me that Stevie Wonder also sang “ pastime paradise” and that I am living therein!

These politicians, writers, etc were colourful, intelligent, purposeful, visionary and above all selfless in spite of their shortcomings as human beings.

In less that 24hours after lifting the ban on politics in 1978, Chief Obafemi Awolowo came out with his party’s manifesto stating clearly the four cardinal programmes of the then UPN. Today the politicians are waiting for “ BABA TO TALK”

The truth is that today’s politicians are interested in only one thing - POWER.

So whichever side of the coin that you turn, whether to opposition or the ruling party the game is about power.

Just take a look at the political parties. About one year to the election season, they are in disarray except perhaps the PDP. Everyone is jostling for power and relevance not for those laudable objectives that commentators allude to when discussing this issue.

Which ideological bloc do the parties represent? What alternatives do they have for us or that they have demonstrated to have for us? Sadly, nothing.

It is not Baba’s responsibility to groom a successor for us. A serious successor should have been on the queue since 1999 and should not be obscure at this point. According to Dante Alighieri in Divine Comedy Inferno “: For fame is not won by lying on a feather bed nor under a canopy”

This era, this republic will almost likely go down in history as one of the lowest, if not the lowest on the scale of national discourse on socio –economic/ political issues in Nigeria. The set of politicians in this era are colourless, uninspiring and dull. Very dull.

The intellectual, even the comical aspects of politicking have been interred. The Samba has stopped to sound; even no staccato could jerk us to life from our long slumber. There isn’t just any sound to dance to and as nature abhors a vacuum, the reasonable thing to do is to continue to walk on a familiar road no matter how tedious.

Uncertainty is costlier than risk. Whereas risk can be measured and taken care of, uncertainty can only be provided for using subjective and qualitative measures including guesswork. At 45 guesswork is clearly not a option.

Lastly let us look at the 1999 constitution. According to section 9, two thirds majority is required at the federal legislative houses and two thirds approval by states’ houses of assembly to effect amendments to the constitution.

This is indeed a tortuous journey. And the response from the opposition has been nothing but blackmail - bribery allegations etc.

If indeed at the federal and states level amendments are successfully passed, bribery or no bribery two conclusions can be drawn. Firstly, that the representatives of the people support such amendment afterall this is a democracy. And by extension it shows that we can indeed be bought by money ( a clear definition of who we are as opposed to who we think we are or who we want to be). Secondly, it also shows that opposition is none existent.

In this connection I am of the view that contrary to popular opinion, the third term bid is more of a challenge to the opposition. A challenge to prove that they are worthy of leadership . It should not be used as an avenue to place unnecessary obligations on President Obasanjo. Afterall “ the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” according to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

To the opposition I will like to warn that managing Nigeria is not a tea party or an avenue to show off mastery of English and Latin. There are serious local, regional and international responsibilities that only those who are endowed can discharge satisfactorily.

I am not saying that Mr. President is indispensable, but sometimes in the history and life of men, certain people are indispensable for a period of time. As economists will say, certain factors of production are fixed in the short run but in the long run all factors become variable.

Once again the challenge today is to the opposition to wake up and prove themselves worthy of leadership. Not through blackmail and cheap publicity but through well articulated road maps to a greater and more cohesive Nigeria.

Power will not move to them just because they asked for it; they must prove worthy of it. This will enable us have faith in the use of power.

I rest my case.

Thanks for having read this article,

Taslim Anibaba(FCA) 4^th December, 2005

N.B : Please note that only intelligent and relevant comments are welcome. Abuses, insults and blackmail will not be dignified with a reply. Thank you

Comments are welcome and can be forwarded to tanibaba@yahoo.com or tanibaba@nigeriavillagesquare.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Great menarealways bad men …… There isno worse heresy...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 05.12.2005 13:54

sniper  Villager

# 2 Good Talk Mr Anibaba, How I Wish A Lot Of Nigerians Will Open Their Heart And Let The Refporm Of Baba Iyabo Sink In, I Don't Think Many Nigerians Are Tired Of Mediocre Ruling Them. How Can We Let Gambo Jimeta And His Cohorts Play With Our Minds We Remember When They Were There And The Wind Blowing Now, I Will Implore Nigerians To Let Us Follow The Reforms If There Will Not Be Food On Our Table Or Not. Posted by sniper| 05.12.2005 14:27

Nkire  Villager

# 3 Mr. Anibaba: Did you really say this: "As a human being President Obasanjo can indeed venture to run for a third term if he so wishes. That I believe is an inalienable right and except opposition has already accepted defeat, merely shouting or sensitizing the public about his intention does not count; it does not reflect a purposeful and vibrant opposition". Given the current constitution of Nigeria, is this not an illegality. Is there any ambiguity in the constitution regarding limit on the number of times a person can be elected to the office of President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor in Nigeria? Please clarify your position here, SIR. Btw, As a human being, George W. Bush would like to venture to run for a third term in the U.S., I am using your paradigm here, off course. After all, he would like to finish the job of eradicating terrorism, killing off the insurgency in Iraq and bringing democracy to the Arabs. You know what, he can't. Why, if you must ask. Well, because the constitution of the U.S says so. It is the rule of law, not the rule of MAN! Chei, my brother, when will this God complex plaguing the African man end. Why must it be it is either me or no one else - ala Mugabe, Musevini (sp), Mobutu, arap Moi, etc. Why no more Nelson Mandela? You know, South Africa is still moving strong since Mandela honorably left the scene, don't you think? Posted by Nkire| 05.12.2005 15:16

Unregistered

# 4 There is no need to abuse turncoats. You have stated your reasons and it is generally the reasons cited by those whom are trying to obtain government patronage in the current dispensation. No one can blame you if this is your circumstance. It is also difficult to believe that you are not over reacting to the known personalities constituting the MDD and/or MRD rather than the overall interest of Nigeria. The 3rd term campaigners are no better or less self interested than the anti MRD/MDD crowd. Who was it that said the cemetery was full of indispensable men? Wasn't it Abe Lincoln? The fact remains that there is little sincerity in the campaign for the 3rd term. Was it not one who said on another screen that Baba was not interested in staying and would install a technocrat that is here on this screen supporting a 3rd term! They cannot seem to make up their minds what it is they want us to believe they are advocating. I have narrowed it down to either a non election in which Obasanjo annoints a successor or one in which Obasanjo continues unimpeded by such inconveniences like elections. Either which way they do not believe that it is a choice for Nigerians to make because their antecedents guarantee that their desired outcome can be rigged in. This is the frightening dimension to it all. It is the fact that this government cannot be trusted to conduct a credible plebiscite otherwise the proposal will be defeated at the poll. But this is a government of 100%, 106%, 110% voter turn out or irregular and incredible voter results. This is a government in which Ojukwu can lose an election in his village. Like saying Awo can lose in Ikenne. This is why there is trepidation. The case is not made for a third term. There is no greater benefit for the people of Nigeria in Obasanjo continuing in office. It sets a very bad precedent for our democracy if we allow people to start tinkering with the rules in the middle of the game because they do not like the result or because they are enjoying it too much and do not want the party to end. Look around you and tell us where you think this will lead to? Anarchy and chaos and we can see it brewing already. Already the clamour by PDP jobbers for a third term has already muddied the electoral waters. We were gearing up for some interesting electioneering when Baba intervened that it was too early. We had numerous hats in the ring from Atiku to IBB, Maikarfi to Muazu, Wabara to Orji Kalu, Odili to Adamu to Buhari to Bafarawa to Attah to Ibori to Alamieyeseigha to Sani. But it was not too early for his supporters to beat the 3rd term drum without hindrance. Just plain hypocrisy. Aluta! Gwobezentashi Posted by Unregistered| 05.12.2005 16:17

TASLIM

# 5 Thank You For Your Observation. The Operative Word In The Quote Is "wish" Anyone Is Free To Wish For Anything, It Is An Inalienable Right To Wish. However , I Mentioned The Constitutional Restriction Of Two Terms Of Four Years In My Article As A Way Of Presenting The Two Sides - The Reality On The Ground And The Wish. Thanks For Your Observation Taslim Posted by TASLIM| 05.12.2005 16:28

Unregistered

# 6 Only Baba has inalienable rights in Nigeria. The rest of us just manage the rough with the smooth. Also depends on what you wish for. If you wish for a 3rd term, then you are a good boy. If you are against, then Ribadu calls. Posted by Unregistered| 05.12.2005 16:37

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 7 Taslim, You seem to be saying that Obasanjo should continue because (a) the opposition is mishandling the stories about him running for a third term by giving it more prominence than it is worth, and (b) the opposition is not credible. To the first - what's so surprising about that? They're the opposition - it's their job to make the incumbent look as bad as they possibly can. It may not be the most ethical thing to do, but who said politics was ethical? In any event, I can't see the connection between the behaviour of the opposition in this regard and the need for Obasanjo to stay on. So I regard this as a rather weak argument, and I'll move on to your stronger second point, which is the lack of credibility of the opposition. There's a certain amount of seductiveness about this argument. Why entrust the nation to a group of inexperienced people when the incumbent who has more experience is available? The well being of the nation is to important to risk in this way. But you need to consider something else - why do you think there isn't any credible opposition? It is arguable that this is because the PDP has so agressively pursued its 'power-at-all-cost' strategy, throwing the election rule book out of the window along the way. So now for many people, the only realistic way to get to power these days is to join the PDP. In fact, it's quite funny in Nigeria how politicians who are nominally members of the ANPP and AD are routinely to be found at PDP meetings. And do you think that by Obasanjo staying around for a third term, he is encouraging an atmosphere where a credible opposition will grow? And really, if there was an unscrupulous dictator of a country who had eliminated all his opposition, would you say that he should stay on because there was nobody to challenge him? Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 05.12.2005 17:55

Unregistered

# 8 Why Obasanjo must go, now azu@the-punch.com The Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ojo Maduekwe, is a master in the art of obfuscation. As the Minister of Transport, he forced on the country a debate on the utility of bicycles as a modern means of transport. Anyone with the faintest idea of the shambolic conditions of our roads might agree that there’s no quicker route to suicide than biking. But Maduekwe, who, on a good winter day, could sell loads of ice in Iceland, thought differently. He launched a full-scale debate on the matter and set an example by biking from his official residence in Asokoro to the State House, with the paparazzi snapping at his heels. He criticised opponents of the bike-for-all policy as paying more attention to the “physics” of the project than the “metaphysics” of it. Why squabble over how a bike looks and fret over its value as a modern means of transportation, when what the present chaotic situation requires is any means of transport that can get you from point A to point B? “It’s the philosophy that matters, you see, the philosophy,” he argued. I don’t know what Maduekwe rides these days, but never one to be in short supply of grandiose ideas, the PDP appears to be putting his gifts to another grandiose enterprise – the quest for a third term. As a faithful party man, I expect him to toe the line; to do exactly what his party wants him to do or else to vote with his feet. But I don’t think that he needed to subject us to that pedagogical nonsense about the party’s ideals, when anyone with a morsel of brain could see that all he wanted to say was that the party would support a third term agenda, if the constitution was amended. Which is a big shame. Up till last Friday when the tongue-in-cheek statement was published, I still gave the party the benefit of the doubt. I have argued, publicly – and in private as well – that even though President Olusegun Obasanjo and a few top members of the party might have had a private desire to extend their tenure at some point in the past, they seem to have finally reconciled with the fact that all those who have had two terms of fours years under the 1999 Constitution, will have to leave when their tenure is up in 2007. Obasanjo has said, publicly and plainly, at least twice, that he’ll leave in 2007. The most direct of the occasions was when he told the visiting World Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz, who asked him point-blank if he was going, that he would not stay beyond his constitutionally-allowed tenure of two terms of four years. That was on June 13. But most people have complained that, in spite of what he said, his body language has been confusing. My thinking, up till last week, was that his perceptually confusing body language was a deliberate strategy to maintain authority and to keep the steam of his reforms. In an environment like this, an exiting president who makes a song of it would, sooner than later, watch his authority ebb. Government will come to a standstill and the only business in town will be fawning courtesies for anyone judged to be the most likely successor. So, I thought that holding back made sense. Another reason why I refused to accept the gossip of a third term was because I thought that Obasanjo would extremely loathe indeed to blight his record as the first soldier in our chequered history to voluntarily hand over to a democratically-elected government. There’s simply too much to lose for him to indulge himself in the thought of procuring a third term. Or so I thought. Even though Maduekwe’s speech deviously left an escape hatch for Obasanjo and his fellow travellers in the third term train, there’s enough coded message in between the lines in that Thursday’s speech to indicate that what is behind six is more than seven. It’s obvious to me now that Obasanjo will not only stay on, if he has his way, he’s working actively to pave the way for himself. If the hijacking of the party machinery and the phoney re-registration exercise were inevitable tactical political moves to maintain control of the party, then the re-admission of Chris Uba; the plans to amend the constitution to favour a third term bid; and the party’s statement last week, were plots designed to gain strategic advantage beyond 2007. And that’s a big shame no matter how confusing a thousand Maduekwes make it sound. As I have argued before, the precedents are well established in the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of INEC vs Osoba and co., that an office holder cannot enjoy benefits other than those contained in the constitution under which he was elected. Also, during the controversy over whether or not local government chairmen could extend their tenure by one year, the Supreme Court ruled that, “No law by the National Assembly can validly increase or alter the tenure of elected officers of local government.” Except if Obasanjo’s example is being inspired by Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe or Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, I don’t see why his case should be different from those of the local government chairmen cited above. I understand that Obasanjo is not in this game alone; that the governors are hand in glove with him – the only sticking point being whether or not the immunity clause should be abolished. Obasanjo wants the clause to go; the governors don’t; they simply can’t trust that it won’t be against them, sooner than later. There’s a strong view in some influential quarters that once this grey area is sorted out, the third term agenda will be home and dry, irrespective of the “noisemakers.” It will be foolish to expect that Obasanjo and co. will leave their exit plan to those they know will not take over from them to manage. But any tinkering with the plan that extends it beyond 2007 will have, at least, four serious consequences for the manipulators and for the nation as well. One, it will mask the incompetence of the opposition, who can only be exposed for what they are through an open, competitive rules-based system. Right now, the only thing that unites them – and rightly so – is the opposition to the emergence of a tyrant. Two, the economy will take a serious blow and the reforms which have barely taken root, will regress. The country risk, which had improved as a result of the political stability of the last few years, will suffer a blow from which it may not recover any time soon. Events in Zimbabwe and Kenya have shown that investors have a choice; they can take their skills and capital elsewhere. Three, there will be a resurgence of ethnic and religious politics on such a scale as the security forces will give a hard time containing violent protests. Unlike the days of Babangida and Abacha when people had to wait for the newspapers to know what next to do, the Internet and the mobile phone will fuel instant and potentially dangerous communication. Four, the manipulators can only know how the third term agenda will begin; they don’t know how it will end. It’s not just a matter of constitutional amendment, as they would have us believe; after all, Fascist Italy, which produced Mussolini, and the Weimar Republic, which produced Hitler, were constitutional governments! As a matter of propriety, law, legacy, commonsense and self-preservation, Obasanjo must leave in 2007 – and he must say so, now. It may well be that he is under-estimating the opposition because he was in jail for the better part of Abacha’s last days. He will do well to read up and spare the nation the needless grief. The PUNCH, Tuesday, December 06, 2005 Posted by Unregistered| 05.12.2005 18:27

Ikemefula

# 9 Your article shows your level of education and the level illiteracy that have ravaged Nigeria for too long. constitutionality or non-constitutionality notwithstanding. I don't blame you, you sound more like a government agent wrapped up in your instittutional illusions. "You wish" Opposition this oppoistion that; oh let them prove that they can run or handle the leadership satisfactorily - these are the words of typical Yorubaman since you baba is there, why no keep Abacha there as a your messiah- simply put, mediocrity. You need to go back to school or study more particularly in Yoruba language that you can understand and handle well. I am not insulting you but as long as your wishful thinking is narrow it also shows that your level of reasoning is poor and by application unintelligent. Come to America and perhaps ask George Bush to stay put because he wants to kill all the terrorists around world and more. My brother quit your day light tinkering that will not lead us anywhere but catastrophe. We undestand and know that you are with them - govt; so we are not surprised at all; this level of reasoning is obtainable only in society that lacks ideas like your Nigeria. It will soon come to an end and you can stay with your baba Iyabo. God bless you . Ikemefula Posted by Ikemefula| 05.12.2005 21:14

Unregistered

# 10 Did you guys read the recent developments in Nigeria? Atiku's Intel Services Company that employs more than 20,000 bread winners in Nigeria was shut down today pending a investigation of corruption (Elendureports.com) and OBJ is about to arrest Atiku on a trumped up charge of plotting a coup (Daily Independent). Na waoooo! I’m beginning for the first time to feel sorry for Artiku. OBJ is really a fascist! OBJ is really bent of ruining anybody and anything so as to declare himself an only winner of 2007 elections. Is it immoral or illegal for the Vice President to be the next in line for the presidency? What have we learned from watching the American political systems for years? Why not change the constitution so that OBJ can rule Nigeria forever since no single Nigerian is capable of doing a better job than this Yoruba man? What kind of rationalized fascism is this? Why not divide the nation so that OBJ can rule you forever since he is the best you have in your corner of Nigeria? Why these fascist games that can lead to bloody disintegration of Nigeria? You guys must be warned that you are not the only people interested in the welfare of Nigeria. I see no future for Nigeria beyond 2006 because many Nigerians will NEVER stand aside to allow you to spit on their faces as you do now. That nation will certainly implode!!!!! ----------------- I’ll not resign, says Atiku • Denies involvement in coup plot By Sam Egburonu (Lagos) and Chesa Chesa (Abuja) Daily Independent, Dec 5, 2005 Mistrust between the two most powerful men in the country deepened on Monday as Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had to raise an alarm over an alleged plan to arrest and prosecute him and his aides. He said he is being accused of allegedly spearheading a coup de’tat to oust President Olusegun Obasanjo. He acknowledged the circulation of documents allegedly connecting him with acts that could destabilise the country. But he denied anything of the sort. He also said he was committed to serving out his term. The statement he signed read in part: “I will also use this opportunity to react to insinuations about my continued role in the present administration. I am committed to serving out our entire term of office as mandated by the Nigerian people when they re-elected President Olusegun Obasanjo and (myself) in 2003, in spite of false insinuations about my imminent resignation”. He pledged loyalty to the present administration. A newspaper report has quoted an aide of Atiku as alleging that plans are in top gear to arrest him on charges of coup plot between December 24 and 26 and get him prosecuted. The report alleged that Obasanjo is to write Atiku or accuse him of the plot on television so that pressure can be mounted on him to resign or be prosecuted. This comes a week after Atiku’s Aide-de-Camp, Abdul Yari, was arrested by the police over allegation of security breach. He is being detained and Atiku has been asked to choose a replacement. The battle for the control of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) between Obasanjo’s loyalists and Atiku’s supporters came to public notice when Atiku granted an interview and said Obasanjo had sworn to him that he would not exceed his 2007 tenure. Obasanjo had replied swiftly, denying ever swearing to Atiku and alleging that his deputy was disloyal to him. Although the two were known to be nursing some grudges against each other, the sudden exchange of words was to mark the beginning of open face-off, thus heating up the polity so much that former Heads of State, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Ernest Shonekan and Abdulsalam Abubakar, between September 25 and 29, had to step in to reconcile the two leaders. Their efforts failed as the battle peaked during the controversial membership revalidation exercise of PDP in October 2, 2005. During the exercise, Atiku was denied registration in his Yelli ward in Adamawa state. He had personally gone to the venue of the exercise, that Sunday, October 2, 2005 to be registered, but after waiting for hours, the frustrated Vice President was told there were no materials to conclude his re-registration. He only wrote his name in an ordinary exercise book and was not given any official registration card. To contain the national outcry that trailed the development, the Ahmadu Ali-led National Working Committee of PDP, immediately organised a session at the Wadata Plaza headquarters of the party, in which it reportedly re-registered the Vice- President. But barely a month after the said registration in Abuja, Atiku was quoted as saying he was actually denied registration during the revalidation exercise. What critics described as the gains of the Obasanjo loyalists during the revalidation exercise was consolidated during the ward, state and zonal congresses, in which officers loyal to the vice president were effectively dislodged. Blaming the onslaught on the National Chairman of PDP, Ahmadu Ali, Atiku’s men mid-November resolved to head for an Abuja High Court to demand the removal of Ali, among other prayers. They said, “Since Ali’s tenure as chairman of PDP ended on Friday, November 3, 2005, his continued stay in office was illegal, undemocratic and unacceptable to majority of the members of PDP.” Since then, speculations that the embattled PDM, led by Atiku, may soon storm out of PDP to form a new party had been confirmed by activities of Atiku’s known associates who played key roles in the formation of both Movement for the Defence of Democracy (MDD) and Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD). Posted by Unregistered| 05.12.2005 21:34

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