Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar picking of Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate appears to show that Atiku Abubakar is serious about tackling the dismal economic situation Nigerians are facing. It appears that he is not just interested in being Nigerian president, but he wants to be a successful president. Peter Obi is a man that knows about financial management. His career which spans decades has been in financial sector until he became governor of Anambra state. As Anambra state governor, he met all state financial obligations without borrowing unlike other state governors. He was stingy and he diligently managed the state’s finances. Peter Obi is not even a good politician due to the fact that he is so principled and does not give an inch to anybody who runs afoul of his principles. He has been going around the country since he left office talking about federal and state finances and budget deficit and Nigerian current dangerous debt profile.
Southeastern governors in Igboland and some political leaders especially deputy senate president, Mr. Ekweremadu is very unhappy with Atiku for what they said is his lack of consultation with them before naming his choice of vice president. Have they forgotten that it is the responsibility of the presidential candidate to chose his running mate? Did any of these governors consult chairmen of local government and political leaders in their state before naming their deputy governors. The answer is no. They choose whom they think is qualified and whom they can get along with. It would have been a good idea for Atiku to call and let the governors and other important political leaders in the zone know about his choice before announcing it, so they will not have to hear it on the news like other Nigerians. Atiku may have been worried that they will reject his choice of Mr. Obi as his running mate or make unrealistic demands.
However, Atiku has made his choice and clear majority of Southeasterners are happy with his choice of former governor, peter Obi. Southeasterners wants a competent person like Peter Obi to represent them and other Nigerians. They do not want an incompetent person who will embarrass them since Peter Obi’s performance and conduct will either reflect positively or negatively on the people of Southeast when they tenure ends if they win. Deputy Senate president, Mr. Ekweremadu and the governors will fail if they try to sabotage Atiku and Peter Obi. They cannot dissuade southeasterners from supporting the ticket. Frankly, overwhelming majority of the Southeasterner were going to supports whoever emerged as PDP candidate because they are not happy with President Buhari’s performance.
With due respect to Senator Ekweremadu, he does not have experience in governance. Being the highest-ranking Southeasterner in government does not mean that he should be chosen as vice president. Senator Ekweremadu is one of the finest legislators in Nigeria today. He is knowledgeable in law making especially in constitutional law. He will be more productive in the senate and has a lot to contribute in Atiku’s administration if he is elected president. He will help immensely in decentralization and restructure of Nigerian federation which Atiku has promised to tackle. Senator Ekweremadu has excellent ideas on decentralization of Nigerian police force. He has some bad ideas as well such as 6-year single term for president, Vice president and governors and their deputies which will kill incentive for any president and governor to perform since they will not have to worry about re-election. Such system will encourage impunity.
Senator Ekweremadu also has another terrible idea which is going back to regional government structure which has contributed to the ethnic and tribal rivalry across Nigeria. Regional government structure could potentially split Nigeria into different countries. Marginalization of some states in a regional structure will occur. Restructure of Nigeria federation must be based on current 36 states structure. Correct word for these changes should be decentralization or devolution of power from the federal to state level not restructure. Township or community government must be established so various towns should govern themselves. They should be under local government which is under the states, just like states are under the federal government. Senator Ekweremadu and some other leaders want regional structure which is unworkable and a non-starter. It will create another layer of bureaucracy which will not solve any problem. Senator Ekweremadu should stay in the Senate. If senator Saraki had won the PDP primary, he would have certainly been chosen as Senator Saraki’s running mate.
Hopefully, Southerneastern governors and other leaders will accept reality. It is laughable to hear some Igbo people say that PDP and APC will zone the presidency to the Southeast if president Buhari stays there for another 4 years or if Atiku wins and serve for only 4 years. Are these people that naïve? Bola Tinubu is waiting to run for president under APC when president Buhari tenure ends assuming he wins re-election, and he will most likely win APC nomination then. people do not voluntarily give up power. Governor Wike may want PDP ticket next time around if Atiku wins or losses. Afterall, he wanted to be governor Tambuwal vice running mate if he had won the PDP nomination.
Atiku and Peter Obi are a good match that will do a lot for Nigeria. Southeastern governors or political leaders from southeast zone who stands in their way will be committing political suicide because southeasterners are already on board. Some of these governors are already getting tremendous backlash and have started retracing their steps. Political positions such as president and vice presidents are of symbolic importance to the ethnic group the president or vice president hails from. It makes the ethnic group feel like they belong. They do not translate into economic development of the area the president or the vice president comes from. Northern Nigeria would have been the most developed region in the country if that is the case. What Nigeria need is a president and vice president with the experience to tackle and diversify Nigeria economy, uphold the rule of law and the constitution to the letter, deepen Nigerian democracy, fight corruption and unify the country.