[OPINION] Why Ndigbo Must Vote For Buhari In 2019

By Anayo M. Nwosu

I need to state ab initio that I’m not a Buhari fan or apologist. In fact, I voted against him in 2015. Since 1999, I would vote APGA for governor and PDP for president. But my political preferences in the past should not and will not becloud my commonsense.

It is now a reality even to global-thinking educated Igbo elites with ostrich playing tendencies that Nigerian politics is still local, ethnic and religious. Nobody is appointed to anything in Nigeria without consideration of his geopolitical zone which most times trumps qualification for the job.

Therefore, it is sheer stupidity for anyone to keep thinking pan Nigerian when Nigeria and its rulers  think local in terms of allocation of all allocatables.

The fluidity with which prominent politicians move from one party to another proves the fact that political parties in Nigeria are mere vehicles to convey the politician to a political destination which is an elective position.

What is immutable is the ethnic stock of the contestant and not his or her political party.

The iteration of Atiku Abubakar as a yo-yo from one party to another in search of an opportunity to fulfill his presidential ambition demonstrates the less importance of political ideology in Nigeria.

If Atiku Abubakar defeats Buhari in 2019, the north as a political block will lose nothing. Their Hausa/Fulani people would feel the way the parents of Serena Williams feel whenever she plays her sister, Venus at a Tennis Grand Slam. Whoever amongst the two sisters that wins is okay with the parents. The trophy and the prize money are in Williams’ family.

Only a minor change would happen if Atiku defeats Buhari in 2019. Most of the personnel employed by Buhari would keep their positions. Emirs and the sultan would ensure that that the careers of budding northern technocrats and political appointees are not truncated.

We have seen with Buhari how a tribe or geographical zone could benefit immensely from the presidency of one of their own.

The election could be funded nationally but the presidency is operated locally by people from the president’s ethnic stock to the disillusionment of those pan-nationalists who dreamed of reaping bountifully from kingmaker roles.

That’s the tragic reality of Nigeria.

In view of the above, emergence of any other northerner except Buhari as the president in 2019 would not be in the best interest of Ndi Igbo.

Buhari must be supported to do a second term after which it will be the turn of the onye Igbo. It’s only logical. The north will gain more if Atiku wins just as Ndigbo will lose all if Buhari loses in 2019. Arthur Eze tried to convey this message albeit in a most crude and mercantilistic manner.

Ndi Igbo should watch out for those who would attempt to capitalize on the current general dislike of Buhari by majority of Ndigbo to market another candidate for personal gains. They are aiming for vice presidential slot, ministerial appointments, board appointments, etc. That won’t work.

All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) should immediately form a working alliance with APC federal government as it did with the immediate past PDP federal government. This it must do without merging with APC.

Gov. Willie Obiano should openly support Buhari’s re-election bid immediately. He did it successfully for Jonathan in 2015. That PMB was impartial during Obiano’s re-election bid would be considered to be an enough reason for Obiano to declare support for Buhari.

All our presidential materials like Soludo, Chidoka, Alex Oti, Uche Oga etc.  should be persuaded by Ohaneze Ndi Igbo to join APC within the next quarter of next year. That’s the right thing to do otherwise we shall be left with jokers currently parading selves as Igbo leaders to be chosen to lead Nigeria when it is our turn to produce the president.

I’m certain that PDP shall field Atiku as its flag bearer in 2019 and it would take a miracle for him and his party to win the presidency.

Gen. Obasanjo would not want to be imprisoned by Atiku. He will therefore work so hard, out of self preservation, to ensure that Atiku doesn’t emerge as Nigeria’s president in 2019.

Even as at that, Atiku would be 72 years old in 2019 and I wonder what old age would allow him to accomplish. His “one-term only” story is funny. Perhaps he just wanted to fulfill his dream of becoming Nigeria’s president at our expense.

This is the time for Ndi Igbo to think strategically, define their interest and work in collaboration with even their perceived and proven enemies to achieve their objective.

Yes, even as odious as Satan was and still is, God had to work with and through him in the trial of Job as captured in the Bible. What is important is to set a limit or rules of engagement and be guided by set objectives.

Therefore, supporting Buhari in 2019 is not out of love for him but a necessary route to a faster achievement of Igbo presidency in 2023.

Don’t be deceived! An Atiku presidency, just as that of Buhari cannot change the fortunes of Nigeria as presently constituted. This is because Nigeria’s structure is gravely dysfunctional.

It will take boldness of a Soludo, Chidoka or any other ingenious and intelligent Igbo man with tensile groin to effect the needed change of structure.

No relatives of the beneficiaries of the present dysfunctional structural arrangement would be serious in tampering with status quo. But an Igbo man or woman can.