By IVOR EKPE
BEYOND the boisterous OBIDIENTS having the airwaves to themselves and the HOUDINI Search ongoing for ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU and the infantile antics of GOV. NYESOM WIKE, I find something strange about VP ATIKU ABUBAKAR.
ATIKU looks to me, this time around, like a Man who knows SOMETHING we don’t.
UNDERSTAND that looking and acting PRESIDENTIAL will not be new to him and after so many years at or around the TOP, he would have mastered that.
The most CURIOUS thing about the Man, whom I know is fatalistic about leading this country and has tried to do so a number of times, is that he has emerged this time as CALM as I have ever seen him.
There is this air of STEADY, STRONG CONFIDENCE without a sign of ANXIETY or NERVOUSNESS that is almost surreal.
Of course it is easy to MOCK any of the CANDIDATES as we are wont to doing or share notes on their capabilities or shortcomings HOWEVER I do not see DESPERATION, beyond being a contestant again, in ALH. ATIKU ABUBAKAR.
I have said on numerous occasions that the ONE ACE the WAZIRIN ADAMAWA holds and can play is to give the HUGE NORTHERN BLOC an opportunity to have another 8 years at the helm.
Will that be enough to cause THE SHIFT?
I for one NEVER buy whatever POLITICIANS say about giving way after 4 years for ANYBODY.
If GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN wasn’t such a WEAK character he would have easily done two terms for Good or Bad.
A lot happens in a 4 year term which can CHANGE any promises made during campaigns.
ATIKU comes with some PLUSES, and without sentiments, of EXPERIENCE at the very top. He has seen it all and knows how GOVERNMENT at the FEDERAL LEVEL works or does not work.
BUT SOMETHING ELSE, makes me curious.
HE IS NOT NERVOUS and is happy to stay in the background away from the spotlight while the OBIDIENTS have the stage and everyone is wondering about ASIWAJU.. What is it?
HE HAS pretty much dealt or coped with the INFANTILE BRAVADO currently in play by the RIVERS STATE Governor.
HE HAS taken a STAND, rightly or wrongly and has remained RESOLUTE.
The inner workings of the Opposition PDP are not my business and they can shoot themselves in the face if they want to and for my Entertainment all day long, for all I care.
I watch him Interviewed. I watch him carry himself. I watch him walk through the flying bullets and still remain unfazed.
PREPAREDNESS? He has been preparing A LONG TIME. So much so he does not have to waste anytime in turning out a well-revised MANIFESTO… all 146+ pages.
DOES ATIKU KNOW SOMETHING we don’t know?
CAN HE OVERCOME those persistent HURDLES particularly in the NORTH?
CAN HE HOLD OFF Gov. Wike and his TANTRUMS?
DOES he still have that PERSONALITY PULL he has always had in many parts of the SOUTH?
FIVE MONTHS is a LONG TIME to ELECTIONS and so much more can happen.
IF I were a fellow CONTESTANT, I would keep an eye on ATIKU and not be DISMISSIVE of his Challenge.
This is going to be INTERESTING to say the least.
#Goodmorning
Ivor Ekpe II.
09:53am: 02/10/22.
Credit: IVOR EKPE FACEBOOK WALL.