By: Lawal Jamiu
On a valley is an unrelenting corruption warlord, a military turn democrat. The hope of the masses. The saviour of the common man. A man of uttermost integrity – as being described by his followers. He is Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR); the incumbent president of the Nation and the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) with their #NextLevel Agenda.
On another valley is a Philanthropist. A refined economist and an employee of labour – Mr Job! Energetic, agile and eloquent candidate – as being described by his followers. He’s Alh. Atiku Abubakar (GCON), the former Vice president of the nation and the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with their #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain agenda.
The general election is just less than 7days away and the jostle for the juicy political seats has been torrential. Blistering campaigns have been staged. Melodious and mellifluous campaign songs has filled our auditory. All with the aim of electioneering! This is not surprising in a democratic society – like ours; especially when a general election is fast approaching.
Muhammadu Buhari was born on 17th December 1942, in his hometown Daura, Katsina State. He was born in the Fulani family to Adamu and Zulaihat as the Twenty-third child of his family.
President Buhari is a retired Major-General of Nigerian Army. He was also the Head of State from 1983-1985 in which he came into power through a coup d'etat. His leadership during this period was also described as Buharism. Due to his strict policies against indiscipline - tagged “War against indiscipline” (WAI).
He has tried several times to become the President between 2003 and 2011 but failed on each occasions. His first victory came as the president of Nigeria when he was chosen as candidate for the All progressive Congress (APC) – a party formed from the diffusion of the defunct ANPP, ACN and CPC. His campaign then focus on three focal points; Economy, Security and infrastructure. He also emphasize on his readiness to wage war against corruption.
Now; he’s back clamouring for votes to consolidate his achievement by moving to the #NextLevel . Besides him his a son of the Southwest, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (GCON); the incumbent Vice president and the Vice presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Conversely, Alh. Atiku Abubakar (GCON) was born on 25th November, 1946. He’s the only surviving child of his parents , having lost his sister at infancy. He was born in a small village , Jada in Adamawa State to a family of Garba Abubakar , a Fulani trader and Aisha Kande.
He's a retired officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, a politician and business tycoon.
Atiku Abubakar who is Nigeria's second elected vice-president ( 1999 - 2007 ) is an austere businessman, he ventured into business while serving as a Customs Officer. He ran for the office of governor in Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) in 1991 , and for the Presidency in 1993 , placing third after MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in the SDP primaries .
In 1998 , he was elected Governor of Adamawa State and it was while he was still Governor - Elect that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Olusegun Obasanjo selected him as his running mate . The duo went on to win elections in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn in as Nigeria’ s second democratically elected vice president on 29th May 1999 .
Abubakar’s stormy relationship with Obasanjo and his bid to succeed the latter met with stiff opposition. Abubakar left PDP and ran on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) because of his issues with Obasanjo . He lost however when he placed third after Late Umaru Musa Yar'Adu and Muhammadu Buhari.
Not one to quit, he later returned to PDP where he contested for the presidential ticket in 2011 alongside former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and others but lost to GEJ .
In 2015; He contested on the platform of the APC presidential primaries but came third behind the incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State.
Now; Alh. Atiku Abubakar is back as presidential candidate on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2019 election whose message as a politician is true federalism. Besides him is a prodigal son of the Southeast and the former governor of Anambra state; Peter Obi.
Without disrespect to other contestants from the Young Progressives Party (YPP); Kingsley Morghalu, African Action Congress (AAC); Omoleye Sowore and others; in-between this valley are the real game players. It’s unfortunately fortunate that they found themselves in a multiparty – but in real sense a duo party system.
For the next four years or more; the future of a great Nation lies in-between the two valleys of either the #NextLevel or #BetterNigeria.
I hereby implore all teeming voters to rather use the power of their PVC to vote wisely for the right Captain to sail the nation into the promise Land.
#SayNoToPoliticalViolence
#NoToVoteBuying
#VoteNot fight.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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