ATIKU ABUBAKAR AND THE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION...

"ATIKU ABUBAKAR AND THE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: HIS CHANCES AND STRATEGY TO WINNING IT" - JIDE AFOLABI...
MY VIEW:

The trending debate; the almost national discourse by Nigerians about the aspirations and apparent bold maneuverings of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on his bid to run for president in the 2019 presidential election is gaining a lot of attention and media buzz. 
I have for some reasons bothering on personal assessment of a workable strategic mapping, under the consideration of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic interest and the now political climate is on the camp of those that believe that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar can emerge victorious.
Hence, as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar is qualified to contest for any position he deems fit. 
This is in no doubt the very reason he has decided to offer himself for the country’s highest political office.
The impression by some Nigerians that he is a criminal, with criminal intentions is far-fetched. 
Ironically this is believed by some Nigerians despite having been privy to headline news in the Newspapers over his exoneration in many court cases bothering on corrupt allegations against him from 2004 to 2007.
In my personal strategic reflection, I believe if Alhaji Abubakar emerges as the 2019 Presidential Candidate of the PDP, he should take into consideration the following prospective strategic moves and alignment; a suggestion if fine tuned and followed religiously can guarantee him success at the polls.
Just like in the just concluded Anambra State Elections where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer Dr. Oseloka Henry Obaze was in part rejected for fear of altering the power sharing formulae in existence of which the incumbent Governor of the state exploited in what was tagged “EIGHT YEARS IS BETTER THAN FOUR YEARS”, the Alhaji Abubakar presidential bid will face an uphill task in convincing the South that he would focus on four years and only just four years.
Since the common belief is that Alhaji Abubakar is desperately in search for power, he should seek to erase doubt of any sort by writing an affidavit and dropping it in a court of Law to show his sincerity principle and commitment to his words.
It is in doing this that he can begin to propagate his promises, which must be hinged on the thrust that he is out to chart a new course for Nigeria, place the project Nigeria on a life line, and then leave the seat of power after the first four years in other to maintain
the power sharing formulae already seen as the guiding road map for power shift and interest in Nigeria.
Owing to the political differentials in the zones, and on the apathy of the people towards the incumbent leadership; the very government that has failed to address varying issues of governance. Due to aligning interests of some zones and their stake to the current leadership and opposition each zone shall be approached according its political peculiarity. 

For instance:
SOUTH-SOUTH REGION-
To gain the support of this region, he should promise many things including expediting the cleaning of oil spills in Ogoni land and other parts of the Niger Delta region, the implementation of one-community-one modular refinery and ensure additional
seaports (minimum of 2) be open in the region. 
These developments will empower more than half of indigenes of the communities where these refineries will be located, create
jobs, stop the importation of refined petroleum products, pipeline vandalization and illegal refining and also boost the economy of the region and nation at large.

SOUTH-EAST REGION-
With the current torrent event in the east over Biafra, and the rise of the IPOB movement and how the present administration handled it, majority of the people of theregion have indelible grudge for the incumbent government and certainly won’t massively support her. Right now they are on the look-out for an aspiring leader who
will recognize their plight, empathize with them and most especially begin a plan to towards the implementation of the CONFAB report based on the tenets of a federal state. 
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should promise the construction of dilapidated federal roads, the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, ensure the dredging and expansion of the river Niger, the creation of a seaport in Onitsha the commercial nerve center of Anambra State and the gateway to the Eastern part of Nigeria. 
These will set business activities on fire in the east since the Igbo tribe was mainly in trade and commerce. 
This will enable the indigenes of this region carry out hassle free trading activities, create jobs, increase the standard of living in the region and also boost the economy of the nation at large.

SOUTH-WEST REGION-
To get the attention and support of the South West Region, Alhaji Abubakar must consider a south westerner as a running mate (Vice President). 
My best strategic recommendation will be the person of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu representing Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North constituency of Ogun State in the Federal House of Representatives (son of Sir. Dr. Chief Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu, OON, CON,KJW popularly known as Baba Ijebu and Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu).
With this union I believe that he will be able to gain the trust of the south-westerners, since the father of the Honorable and the proposed running mate, Sir. Dr. Chief Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu (Baba Ijebu) is loved and respected by over 72% of the Yoruba tribe.
The union will also help in cementing the relationship between Atiku and Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo (in-law to the Adebutu’s) whom we all know possess great relevance in the present Nigerian politics. 
It will also appeal to the youths, owing to the youthfulness of Dr. Chief Kensington. He will be the youngest Vice President in the
history of Nigeria.

NORTH-CENTRAL REGION-
To gain the support of this region, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should as a campaign trail get committed in promise and action to ensure the presence of the people of the region in Government, to enforce the law of ranching and prosecution of defaulters, an issue that has been a major source of conflict between the farmers and the herdsmen.
The conflict has been a major setback for the people an government of the region in the sense that the farmers can no longer get to their farm for fear of an attack, hence no planting season, no Internally Generated Revenue from the farmers.
This Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must do for the region, an issue that has failed to be addressed by the present administration.
With this strategic view and analysis, it will be extremely difficult for him to lose the presidential election come 2019 and he will also be able to avert problems from any ethnic group that might not see him as coming from their region during his Presidential Campaign and eventually Presidency...