Opinion | By Dr David Charima (No sentiments) | 22. 05. 2022
Pettiness is the best description of the outcome of the Atiku Presidential Tour to woo Taraba State delegates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to his favour.
The octogenarian in a bit, broke down emotionally just to emphasize how attached he feels with Taraba State. He was of course smart enough in his imagination to use the Hausa Language (Eutopians say Language is VISA) to romance audience that are not the actual delegates in principle but they are serving Commissioners and other appointees of Government under Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
What was striking was how he captured the hearts of the non-delegates with words like other politicians seeking the highest office in the nation are his children and boys.
He stressed that when he started politics those children where no where to be found or better put they were his errand boys.
In my opinion, the former Vice President is due for retirement for the following reasons;
*1. As Vice President serving President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo he had no solid impact on the lives of his immediate community as the opposition always wins Jada and Ganye Constituencies.
*2. When he was Vice President, the road to Jada and Ganye was a horrible sight and I had to change my shock absorbers thee three times I visited. That car is long dead.
*3. The Shaleng-Lamurde road from Adamawa to Gombe state was awarded three times under his supervision and he controlled the choice of contractors but yet he could not deliver.
*4. The Numan – Mayo-Lope (Taraba) road is still a death trap as nothing was done in his time to fix it. He was a proponent for the construction of that road but failed.
*5. The Mayo-Belwa to Zing (Taraba) road takes 10 minutes on a good day but since 1999, nothing was done until recently during the APC led Adamawa State salvaged the situation.
*6. Aside his personal businesses with high charges and fees for the wealthy there is no meaningful impact he has on the lives of the common man. Abti American University, Abti Hotels, Abti Press and Cyber cafe can only be afforded by the high and mighty.
*7. His experience in politics shows that he is anti-youths because a man at his age should be a Mentor to young Nigerians to grow and not just dream.
If Wike is a boy to him but Wike has more antecedents and visible achievements than Atiku it then means that like Buhari with multitude of uncertain age, he has nothing to offer but unrealistic promises.
Wike has accomplished so much as a Governor than a Vice President. That means he has the competence, capacity and courage to lead a NEW Nigeria.
I see Wike in me and me in Wike. My humble opinion without prejudice- Pa Atiku please retire.
I just want to make unusual sense
•Dr. David Charima writes from Taraba