Deconstructing the Atiku Arise TV interview

It is no longer news that I am an ardent supporter of the former vice president of Nigeria and presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ─Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his yet renewed bid for the presidency. Having supported him in 2019 because of my conviction at the time, that a second tenure for the Muhammadu Buhari Administration would be catastrophic for the Nation, and having not been presented with a better option on the ballot in 2023 (since the All Progressives Congress (APC) must pay for what would be 8 years of socio-economic disaster under the clueless Muhammadu Buhari regime), the decision to support him yet again,  was more or less, a fait accompli since I had not been struck, or should I say, incapable of being stricken by the so-called Third Force gallivanting as ‘Obidients’.

Yet, I had expressed serious concern about the former VP’s disturbing silence since his emergence as the PDP’s presidential flag bearer at the Special Convention of the party in May. My worry was informed by the fact that the presidential candidate of a leading opposition political party could not afford to be silent or play ghost on the masses whose votes are critical in the realization of any presidential ambition, at least in a democracy.

This situation was not helped by the fact that some mischievous elements were taking advantage of the situation to lump the PDP and APC as two fingers of one leprous hand, in order to further their own political agenda. I had taken exception to this, arguing that the PDP as an opposition party cannot afford to be blamed for the errors of omission and commission by the APC who steamrolled their way into power in 2015 waving an illusory banner of ‘change’. It was my considered view that the 2023 election must be a referendum on the APC’s legacy of tears, sorrow and blood in the last 7 years.

But Atiku’s silence was not helping matters so much that some persons questioned the rationale behind his choice as the PDP’s candidate. Even though his verified social media handles were constantly engaged, I had argued that Nigerians, particularly the netizens would rather hear from the candidate in person, as against his media handlers. This was necessary to afford them the opportunity to assess his thought process, cognitive awareness, state of health and qualifications for the office of president at large since one of the issues that had been raised by his renewed quest for the presidency was his age,  and whether Nigeria could afford another ‘absent presidency’ that Buhari typifies. Whilst I tried to reach out to some of his handlers to articulate these concerns, I was serially assured that it was receiving attention.

It was against this backdrop therefore that I was elated to hear that His Excellency would be speaking exclusively to Arise TV last Friday in his first major appearance of this election season. As I had tweeted, I hoped that the interview would afford him the opportunity to clarify the misconceptions about his person, politics and business over the years, as well as unpack his Reform Agenda for Nigeria,  if elected as president in 2023.

Let me confess that I didn’t know it would be a recorded session. I had thought as of Thursday night,  that His Excellency would be at the Abuja studios of the news outlet by Friday morning under the fire of the triumvirate of Dr. Ruben Abati,  Victoria Tundun-Abiola and Oseni Rufai of the #MorningShow crew.  However, when information to the contrary filtered in, I was yet convinced that the ultimate purpose and outcome would not be compromised.

Not being privy to the discussions that gave birth to the interview, it would be unhelpful to speculate about it or engage in unnecessary hair-splitting as to why it wasn’t a live engagement as some critics have preferred. For me, I would think that what is important is the assessment of the questions put across to him, whether he proffered answers to them that suggest an understanding of them and the extent to which he articulated his proposed programs as encapsulated in his publicized policy document entitled ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’.

Over breakfast on Friday morning, therefore, I watched the interview; and while it lasted, an Igbo proverb that says, until the animals tell their own story, the story of the hunt would glorify the hunter, resonated with me. Indeed, the positive outcome of the engagement reinforces the devastating effects of media warfare and mind-control, and why a large media budget cannot be overemphasized in any serious presidential bid. Apparently, whilst the former Vice President had preferred the dignified and statesmanly disposition to his presidential ambition, it had come at a huge price of mischaracterization of his person, intellectual abilities, political worldview and patriotism; one that he alone could have corrected.  And this, he brilliantly did in that one-hour showpiece.

Calm,  confident, and presidential, Atiku visibly impressed his interlocutors of Dr. Abati and the ever radiant Tundun-Abiola with the articulation of his policy agenda across different sectors of our economy: from education to healthcare: energy to infrastructure; power to security warts and all, Atiku brought to bear his first-hand experience in governance which he acquired as Vice President to Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007; within which period they laid the solid foundation of the socio-economic gains of the instant Fourth Republic with him, Atiku, as a key-driver.

Since the days after the interview which continues to dominate discussions in the polity, one element however which for whatever reason has not been fully explored in the serial analyses of the interview is the pragmatic nature of Atiku’s prognosis which takes due cognizance of the size of the problem. Where other candidates have been quick to make outlandish promises; the sort which the APC made to Nigerians pre-2015, Atiku has been more measured. As a serial investor who understands the dynamics of the market economy, one notices his fixation with policy as a sine qua non to any sustainable growth and development. Take for example his views on the foreign exchange crisis. He argues that to stabilize the Nigerian foreign exchange market, there must be a convergence of the different exchange rates; the lack of which is primarily responsible for the fiscal crisis witnessed under the Buhari regime with great implications for the fortunes of the Naira.

One could also notice the similar level of policy-nuanced approach across the spectrum of his policy proposals. And where possible, he was specific in what he would do. In the area of security, for example, he argues that the decentralization of the police has become non-negotiable having regard to the size and ethnolinguistic nature of the country. In order to unite the military and other paramilitary agencies, he takes the view that their leadership must be reflective of the various ethnic nationalities that comprise the Nigerian State, as against the current skewed system under the Buhari regime which has seriously factionalized the army and other security agencies, thereby unwittingly hampering the pan-Nigerian synergy needed in the prosecution of the different hues of insecurity confronting the nation.

Elsewhere, having been consistent in his argument for restructuring, it was not surprising either that he argues that the perennial problem of animal husbandry will be tackled by donating to the states the prerogative of the preferred system of animal husbandry. Certainly, in a true federal republic, it amounts to standing logic on its head, for the central government to micromanage otherwise residual matters of the constituent units which unfortunately the current Administration propagates through ill-thought programs such as ‘Ruga’ and the infamous grazing routes.

In the area of Energy, it was instructive that the interview coincided with the unveiling of the new NNPC Limited by the Federal Government. When Atiku first mooted the idea of privatizing the National oil company four years ago on the campaign trail, all hell was let loose. But like a dog going back to its vomit, it was a moment of vindication for the former VP as the self-same APC government came to the harsh realization of what Atiku had proposed years ago. Yet, he contends that whilst this may be a step in the right direction, the current framework suffers from a lot of policy dislocations which would not guarantee the desired outcome, contrary to his own proposal where all relevant stakeholders including the states and private sector players would own interest in the NNPC as with other global energy giants such as Aramco in Saudi Arabia, and Petrobras in Brazil. In the areas of power, education, health, infrastructure, job creation etc, one notices a similar level of appreciation of the depth of the problem and the innovative, yet pragmatic proposals of turning around the status quo; and where possible, drawing context from personal experiences of their application in his massive business enterprise.

Through and through, one must admit that the PDP flag bearer impressed as one at home, and in full ownership of his ideas. Whilst this writer acknowledges that he could have been more detailed in some respects; that may be explained away as the posture and attitude of an experienced politician who has seen it all, and understands that what the next Nigerian President requires are more action and less talk. Even then, it goes without saying that other speaking opportunities would present themselves ahead of the campaigns where he’d have the opportunity to further engage and contextualize his policy document.

Overall, it is clear beyond doubt that the interview was a huge success, optically and in substance. And perhaps for completeness, where there had been fears about his health; the combination of his appearance, balance,  posture,  eloquence, and coherence neutralized these concerns little wonder even his most ardent critics have not been heard making a case out of the state of his health, including those whose preferred candidate cannot comfortably raise a party-flag.

As expected, the fixation has been on trifles such as the mode of delivery of the interview and the legitimacy of the source of his much-touted wealth. Now, as I had argued elsewhere, the legality of Atiku’s investment in transport business as a young customs officer over three decades ago, against the 1999 Constitution is a retroactive exercise in legalism which falls flat. What is more, public service is not a sentence to a life of penury or an invitation to bury one’s spirit of enterprise. The only caveat to a public servant running private business is to the extent that it does not detract from their full service hours, or create a conflict of interest situation which has not been disclosed in the case of Atiku. One would think that those who continue to make these outlandish allegations of corruption against him would take on his challenge to substantiate some of them, in a court of competent jurisdiction. Until that is done, those allegations and insinuations must remain what they are: the handiwork of mischief makers actuated by a wicked and devilish political agenda.

While it is difficult to achieve a consensus on the success or otherwise of the exclusive interview, what cannot be denied, however, is that Atiku Abubakar has set the tone for the 2023 presidential campaign season.

Hopefully, the campaigns will be issue-based this time in order to afford the re-energized electorate the opportunity to make informed choices at the ballot. So much rest on the 2023 election and Atiku has once again demonstrated that he is ready to unify the country and set it once again on the path of growth and development.

A Lawyer and Public Affairs Commentator, the writer can be reached via [email protected]. He tweets @raymondnkannebe.