Editors' note: The writer, Buchi Obichie, points out that Atiku Abubakar's surprise visit to the USA will certainly change the political equation as regards the presidential election; and she says the former VP has former president Olusegun Obasanjo to thank for this!
One of the sweetest victories in life is doing what the critics say you cannot do...calling their bluff...taking them up on a dare and coming out on top. It's like pulling off a high-wire acrobatic performance across the tallest buildings in the world; and the feeling, afterwards, is simply magical!
On Thursday night, January 17, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sent shock waves reverberating across the Nigerian political space when he suddenly emerged in the United States of America.
Strutting into the airport with Nigeria's number one political mafioso (as I call him), Senate President Bukola Saraki by his side, the former VP was all smiles.
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Atiku had somehow managed to pull off a feat many thought was impossible, considering the fact that there were allegations that he had been 'banned' from entering the US because of alleged corrupt activities involving a former US congressman.
The rumour had pervaded for so long, and had been a constant talking point for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which had always found reason and opportunity to throw jabs at the former VP over the matter since he (Atiku) emerged as his party's flag-bearer for the presidential election. Well, all that has changed!
Atiku arrived like a 'ghost in the night'...without warning. Though there had been speculations and even chatter on Thursday afternoon, that the presidential candidate was enroute to the US, many of us held our breaths, refusing to believe until we saw. Well, like Jesus did with Thomas the Apostle, Atiku has cleared our doubts.
The journey was so shrouded in secrecy that even the Nigerian Embassy in the US was taken unawares. As Atiku touched down, an embassy source reportedly disclosed that they were still awaiting official communication to that effect.
The source said: “Actually, we have not received any information for the embassy but we are just trying to find out whether really he is coming. That is what we are doing right now."
It was classic Houdini...magic at its finest!
However, as the applause rang out for Atiku, I thought it necessary to point out the fact that the surprise visit could not have been pulled off without the help of Atiku's former boss (and one-time enemy), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's former president.
It is no news that OBJ has done a complete 360 degree turn from his days of fighting against his former deputy who he had accused of being corrupt. After years of being at loggerheads, the former president buried the hatchet and embraced his former wing-man, even giving Atiku his blessings to seek the highest political office in the land.
Since then, OBJ has not spared any effort in making Atiku more presentable and acceptable by the local and international community, and attacking President Muhammadu Buhari in the process.
See, Obasanjo, in spite of his many (obvious) flaws, is a master tactician. He knew that in order to give Atiku a good chance of taking the presidency away from the incumbent, it was important that Atiku be able to shake off the allegations of corruption which he (OBJ), by his previous statements, had helped propagate in the public space. And he knew that the most potent way to do that, was to ensure that Atiku made the all-important trip to the USA...not Dubai...to the United States of America.
So, he pulled it off. We don't know how he did it, but he did!
How do I know Atiku's visit has OBJ's fingerprints all over it? Well, it's simple - the APC itself, had alerted us to the development.
In a statement released on October 2018, the APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said: “We have come across credible reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, whose candidacy he endorsed."
Gbam!
But then, you may also be asking why this US visit is so important anyway. Well, apart from helping to cast aside the corruption allegations, the visit also gives Atiku a more acceptable appearance in the international community...especially considering the fact that the USA is the world's superpower. And in the world of African politics, any semblance of America's blessing, does seem to give a presidential candidate a good chance at the polls!
Yes, citizens do cast votes; but then, in the world of politics (in Africa), power seems to reside in the hands of 'powerful forces' who bestow it upon those in whom they are well pleased. LOL. I'm just kidding...or maybe not.
See, the USA is a major player in global politics- like you didn't already know - and makes moves far and wide, based on its national interest. And an appearance of some sort of affiliation with power brokers in that country is akin to an indication of its preference in the grand scheme of things.
Take for example, the case of Goodluck Jonathan.
The former president has made no secret of the fact that one of the reasons he lost his bid for re-election in 2015 was because of then president Barack Obama's interference in the exercise. Jonathan pointed out that Obama even went as far as releasing a video telling Nigerians to open a 'next chapter'.
According to Jonathan, "those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he (Obama) was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government."
In the end, Jonathan lost, Buhari won.
Now, while there are no plans in place for Atiku to meet current US President Donald Trump - at least, none that we know of - or for Trump to release a video on his behalf, we certainly know that Atiku will be meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce, which is the largest lobbying organisation in the US.
The US Chamber of Commerce is so influential that its specific economic and political leanings enables it to play major roles in American elections and in creating jobs in the world's largest economy. And it is meeting with Atiku? That is major!
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Even the minister of information, Lai Mohammed, recognises how consequential an Atiku visit to the US is. In November 2018, Mohammed stated: “We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the US to grant a visa to anyone who applies.
“However, we want the US to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other. Impression must not be created that the US government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other."
Well, it seems like the US did not pay any attention to Mohammed, as the visa was eventually granted to Atiku!
I'll conclude by saying this: The APC knows that this development is certainly going to change the political equation as regards the presidential election. While it is left to be seen whether the visit (and its eventual outcome) will shift things so substantially as to deliver the presidency to Atiku, i dare say that it certainly makes his chances much brighter.
And Atiku has Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to thank for this. OBJ is the man!
This opinion piece was written by Buchi Obichie.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Legit.ng.
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