Timothy Omobude A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress in Edo South have shared his opinion over the seeming non-existent Atiku Abubakar in the debate among residents of the state on who will likely make it to Aso Villa in 2023 among the various contenders for the presidency of Nigeria.
The two-horse race debate in Edo between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Peter Obi appears to have placed Atiku Abubakar as a no-go area in the state, and Liberty ‘Ruyi has x-rayed the different factors responsible for the removal of Atiku from the chessboard by Edo people.
In response to questions asked, ‘Ruyi was categorical that the popular insinuation that the masquerading Fulani killers in Edo can’t be tamed by another Fulani President after eight years of one in the saddle coupled with the understanding of rotational presidency that has become part of every literacy class in the South kills Atiku’s dream in Edo before arrival. He argued that the mention of Fulani in the South is now related to bloodshed with firsthand experiences across rural villages and highways in the state which cannot be waived aside by intense political campaigns as the re-occurring memory is not only personal of voters but becoming community orientation which only requires a president of the southern extraction to change the people’s perception.
He continued that “the antecedents of Atiku Abubakar are well known by Edo people who are said to enjoy a literacy rate higher than 68 percent. The majority of Edo people particularly the youths can tell you what Atiku represents in government and outside of government. The issue of his support for open grazing by Fulani herdsmen and his inclination to violent religious extremists with his response to the unwarranted killing of Deborah is another one the people are not taking likely. The story of how he sold Nigeria’s major assets for peanuts to his allies and his Special Purpose Vehicle strategy for corruption is on every Edo man’s lip, even his lack of physical strength to face the rigorous campaign and his penchant for life in Dubai. It is no news to the Edo people that the man is desperate to become President to fulfill a selfish purpose. Nigerians in Edo are very smart.”
Liberty ‘Ruyi who thinks that sitting governors of a political party have a way of enhancing the fortunes of the presidential candidates of their party said Godwin Obaseki has lost much goodwill as he is more hated than Atiku in Edo at the moment following his disappointing second term outing after the overwhelming support he got from Edo people. “No Senatorial Candidate or otherwise can boldly campaign with the name of Obaseki today in Edo. The ordinarily good candidates in the PDP today are having the failures of the Obaseki administration hanging around their necks and are struggling to pull it off but to no avail. So, using Obaseki’s name or associating your campaign with Obaseki today is like introducing yourself as a son of a wicked king. It kills the campaign. Head or tail, Atiku is not flying in Edo.”
“Yet, there is a bigger albatross in Edo PDP as the infighting between the camp of the Governor and that of Wike-backed National Vice Chairman South South Dan Orbih continue unabated a few weeks before the election. As of today, nobody in Edo, even within the PDP is sure of who their candidates are. While INEC displays Orbih’s candidates for the National Assembly elections it also displays Obaseki’s candidates for State Assembly elections leaving room for unending controversies pending the decision of the Supreme Court. So, when you say Atiku in Edo, people begin to wonder if you are a resident or you are just pulling a joke as party faithful are even afraid to discuss it in public to avoid insults or possible mob action.”
Liberty ‘Ruyi was loud in saying the election is between Peter Obi and APC in Edo. He said, “while the Obidients are standing their ground for Peter Obi in Edo particularly Edo South and Central, they are very much disposed to supporting other APC candidates including those for Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly to return Edo to the glory days of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole when development was seen on the ground rather than in the news on social media. So, the job of APC for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pretty simple in Edo as indigenes and residents want to listen to the APC arguments. Several pundits have already predicted a winner between Tinubu and Obi in Edo State leaving Atiku in a distant and embarrassing third place.
Liberty ‘Ruyi described as embarrassing the flag off of the PDP campaign in Orhionmwon held at Ugo recently as villagers refused to turn up for the much-publicized event that had factional candidates of the Governor all in attendance from Senate to State Assembly. He said what was seen in the shameful videos uploaded were followers of the various candidates who were conveyed in branded campaign vehicles from Benin dancing and singing for themselves like a lizard that fell from the sky and had to applaud itself even though nobody noticed his efforts. He said such an embarrassing outing is now a common denomination in different parts of Edo State and even worse in Edo North where people have to be conveyed from faraway Benin City for priced money.
