Date Published: 07/05/10

An Open Letter to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Turakin Adamawa.

We know people will insult you and call you names with unsubstantiated allegation here and there. Our memory is still fresh how you battled the monster in Aso Rock and the PDP over the infamous Third Term and your desire to exercise your democratic rights to contest election to be president of Nigeria. We also know the position of the Nigerian Constitution that one is adjudged innocent until proved guilty.

So far there is NO COURT in Nigeria that has pronounced you guilty of any wrong doing. When they accused you of misappropriating PTDF funds, you proved with evidence (photocopy of cheques) that it was actually your accusers that had a field day with the PTDF funds including their lawyers. When they said your house in US was raided and Jefferson collected bribe on your behalf, you kept your cool and Jefferson was jailed without any links to you.

We know all the boulders that were hurled your way. As a fighter who knows the dept of his strength and never saying ‘NO’ to injustice, you left a legacy of how we should fight injustice democratically. Many of your friends deserted you. The spirit of the Orphan child in you was rekindled and you fought the enemies of democracy as you fought through life to become what you are today. Your struggle against injustice is an encouragement to many Nigerian and we are willing to help you rise to be president of Nigeria so that we all can learn the true tenets of democracy.

You have showed exceptional leadership trait with great humility. Some of us also know that Nigerian have short memories to reflect and remember how you stood your ground and fight injustice. We know how the retired military cabal led by OBJ ganged up against you yet you did not relent. You fought like a wild cat. They succeeded in denying you the president ticket but like the South African Bafana Bafana, you were NOT DISGRACED. You earned the respect of millions of Nigerian.

I am a new convert and by Nigerian standard people will call me names for writing these. I don’t care, I have my freedom guaranteed under the constitution to express myself as long as I do not infringe on another person’s rights. Nigeria belongs to us all and we must be civilized in all we do, say or act for the best interest of the nation. Too many people in Nigeria are not independently minded to listen, understand, think, and say things on their own. They listen to gossips, newspaper reports and vile hatred expressed by others’ enemies to draw conclusions. This is wrong. Talk or only say things you can be sure of even at gun point (since we not fear God enough to be afraid of Him anymore).

ATIKU IS THE CANDIDATE TO BEAT. If you have any evidence linking Atiku to any gross corruption please bring them out now so we can be convinced he is not fit to contest Nigeria’s election. If not please we don’t want blind insults without proof. If we demand a good candidate (maybe an angel) we should measure close to one or else even the angel will have a hectic time leading devils like us. Keep your assumed hatred for Atiku aside and look at his antecedents as a politician and see if he has done well or not. See if he has a political life style that is appealing or not.

Cross-carpeting? He never left PDP but PDP chased him out. He acted within Nigeria’s constitution of freedom of associating with people who liked him. When the obstacles in PDP were removed, he went back to his house he helped built. What is bad in that?

As an experienced politician, these are not new to you. We will stand by you ANYTIME because you have displayed uncommon knowledge of how Nigeria should be run through your humility and recourse to the rule of law to secure justice.

You are not perfect we know this (but who is perfect on earth here?), we will stand by you for the new democratic Nigeria we all want.

These are your attributes we have come to understand and are proud to say them:

Ø      They tried to remove you as VP through contrived means but you kept cool and asked the courts to interpret the constitution for the gang in PDP and the monster boss in Aso Rock.

Ø      You never used your wealth to destabilize your country when OBJ and PDP did the greatest injustice to you in Nigeria and Adamawa state your home state,

Ø      They sacked your aids, you kept cool,

Ø      You went to court to smash every falsehood labeled against you teaching us that that is true democratic rights

Ø      You stood by you principles and loyalty to Nigeria rather than loyalty to OBJ

Ø      You have turned Yola in Adamawa State (your state) into a paradise by your investment in education and provides employments to more than 3000 people in Yola alone (in ABTI Press, American University, of Nigeria, ABTI Academy, ABTI Business Centre, African ICT Centre for Innovative Studies, Radio Gotel, up coming TV Gotel, AUN Community School, Adamawa Plastics, Adama Beverages,

Ø      You have assembled the best leaders in the world (such as Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, Prof. Pat Utomi, Alh. Bamanga Tukur, Prof. Aleideno, Robert McNamara, Sir Maras Golding, Robert Bob Pastor, Alh. Dantata etc) as Board of Trustees Members of your American University of Nigeria

Ø      You came up with a master plan on how Nigeria should be run including the proposal for Ministry of Niger Delta in your manifesto (which Yaradua later borrowed from your plan).

Ø      You are not Mr. Know-all like OBJ who told his newly appointed advisers ‘when you advise me it does not mean I must take’ but you ALWAYS assemble the best brains and never interfere with their operation but supervise strictly.

Ø      You have solution for every sector of this country using the technocrats available to solve our problems. These are easily identified in you achievements in life (successes in business because of use of the best brains, in courts because of the best lawyers, in politics because of the best politicians, in AUN because of the best lecturers, e.t.c)

My only request to you Turaki and your supporters is to continue to forgive all as it has always been your nature but there are also those who are bad around you who rubbish your name. Beware of them and keep them at arm length. We will be honest about your support and also expose anyone who will try to destroy you or your legacies.

All those mobilizing for Turaki should reach out wide. They should note my submissions above and build on it to form our campaign point. We are willing to register to take up the battle for Turaki’s election. We also need copies of Reform to Prosperity

Please contact me through email.

Abubakar Ibrahim, Adamawa State

Abufunny5@yahoo.com