Opinion

Atiku Abubakar In Akwa Ibom State: Moral And Political Questions

The visit of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to Akwa Ibom State for the flag-off of his presidential campaign today (October 10, 2022) raises a number of moral and political questions that Akwa Ibom people should consider keenly.

First, the moral issues:

1. Atiku was the VP to President Obasanjo and we recall that President Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar adamantly opposed the payment of 13% derivation to Akwa Ibom State. Obasanjo, in the presence of Atiku, said, “Akwa Ibom must beg; Akwa Ibom will suffer’’, but Atiku did not help. He was complicit in Obasanjo’s cruelty to our people. I invite the reader to read my book on the roles played by some eminent sons of the state in the fight to stop Obasanjo’s cruelty. Atiku did not do anything to help Akwa Ibom in those very difficult moments.

2. As VP, Atiku was the Chairman of National Council on Privatization, the position on which he presided over the privatization programme of the government. The privatization of ALSCON, the aluminum smelter company in Ikot Abasi, was so messy that it led to the death of that thriving company, and many Akwa Ibom people lost their jobs.

Is it morally right for Akwa Ibom people to support Atiku?

The political question

Atiku is a Fulani Muslim from Adamawa. Is it appropriate in a pluralistic democracy for him to aspire to succeed Buhari, another Fulani Muslim from Katsina? The Fulani are just about 8 million people in the country. How fair is that?

Akwa Ibom people must ponder these questions as they go to the stadium today.

All politics is local, and all politics must take care of your interest.

You cannot be part of a political process that is antithetical to your group interest.

Etim Etim

ETIM ETIM is a journalist, banker and author. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, a Regional Manager in Access Bank and is currently a Columnist in Prime Business Africa, The Cable and Businessday newspapers. He is also the Chief Executive of Stein Meyer Communications, a major media consultancy and the author of the best-selling book, "Akwa Ibom Heroes: Inside Story of the Fight for Abrogation of Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy" and co-author of another book, "Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader".