I’ve looked at this from all angles and I don’t quite get it.
There is no way deputizing Atiku helps Peter Obi in anyway. It doesn’t help Nigeria either and neither will it help ndị Igbo in our quest to end the marginalization of Ndi Igbo and Igbo land.
Being a vice president is just a mere ceremonial job. More like an errand boy job for the president’s pleasure. No real independent powers. You can’t even cough well without getting permission from the president first. In fact, being a 1st rate minister is even more powerful and relevant to implementing some good reforms than being a vice president.
For a man in the caliber of Peter Obi, accepting to become a vice president after showing that he is the most acceptable and most poised for the job, can be seen as an act of self-denigration and abandonment of the confidence the masses reposed in him. I don’t like it one bit. But I can see people are pushing that narrative and we know Nigerian politics, anything can happen, but before it does, let me state categorically that this is a bad idea. I may be wrong, but I don’t think I am.
I don’t see Peter Obi as someone who just wants to be something for the sake of it. True, being a vice president is an upgrade in title from being a former governor, but the Peter Obi we all know and love is not one crazy for mere titles. He is one who seeks to improve the society he lives in. And he can only do it from a position of real authority, the type being a president accords.
We have seen how presidents from 1999 till date treated and still treats their vice presidents. Rendering them completely irrelevant and secluded from the machinations of daily governance. I don’t think Atiku will treat Obi differently if they pair and win. But that’s not even the problems, pairing won’t guarantee victory for obvious reasons.
Tinubu has already perfected his rigging plans and has even bought all his alibi to justify whatever he puts out there as results come 2027. Forcing almost all governors into his APC cult is one such alibi. When the masses finally vote against them, they will still claim victory. After all, they control the whole “structures”.
Therefore, without massive changes in the present make up and operational directives of this very inec, forget it. In 2027, it’s not only IREV that will be switched off, even BVAS won’t work and voters’ registers won’t be available in areas of strong oppositions.
So when all these will be going down, we will begin to ask ourselves, why? Why did the only man the masses hoped on decide to surrender under Atiku? I hope the answer will be satisfactory.
To me, it’s better to be the best president Nigeria never had than to be the brightest star that hid behind a fading moon and gets crushed by a marauding beast.
