Mr. SKC Ogbonnia’s piece, Atiku’s Presidential Dream: An Obituary is powerfully and forcefully written as a PhD holder (SKC has one) is expected to write. Everything is well aligned; punctuations, syntaxes, tenses, even his logic is right up there. But his conclusion:

As for Atiku, the affable former Vice President ought to be eulogized for his ambition. But he should forever blame his presidential quietus on the failure to demonstrate any lessons learned from the 16 years of gross misrule under the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria, eight of which he was a very powerful second-in-command. Adieu, Wazirin!

The death of Atiku’s presidential dream is grossly exaggerated as Atiku’s presidency is virtually guaranteed unless President Muhammadu Buhari and APC continue to rig elections as they did in Ekiti, Ogun, during primaries, etc.

If rigging is absent, please welcome the new president of Nigeria, the thief President Atiku Abubakar. He is the better thief of the choice PMB and PAA.

As I have written elsewhere Mr. Atiku is better because

He is healthy (I hope; seems so)

He has economic visions (I hope)

He is leading a united party (seems so)

He has done one or more other things successfully.  PMB’s whole life experience was as a military dictator; nothing outside military government

It does not look like Atiku would surround himself with the Caliphate.

He has a broader image of Nigeria. etc.

PMB is what the Igbo call “nmuo ana akwa aka” meaning a spirit that needs some human help. Spirits are above humans so when they need human help something is awfully wrong. PMB has no accomplishments to support returning him to power; he is weak on his legs, he is so thin that each time he stands up people are watching to make sure he does not fall completely to the ground; his brain is weak and he has taken the party that Tinubu built and shattered it to crumbs. He has no loyalty to party or to anybody but Buhari.

He did this by admitting the worst elements of old PDP to APC. He has not been able to get anything through the legislature even when he had absolute majority; we hear that he recovered enormous amounts from the looters but no one can provide the names, the amounts and punishments; the war against Boko Haram is going badly etc.

Mr. Ogbonnia asked that we do the math. Well I have done the math. Atiku starts with a sweep of Rivers state and Zamfara where PMB’s party APC cannot field any candidates. Atiku has no opposition in the rest of SS and SE. There will be token PMB supporters in Ekiti and Ogun states in SW and Lagos is anybody’s to win. The entire NC will be the battle ground states with slight edge to Atiku helped by the Fulani herdsmen.

Kano will be dearly fought over with slight edge to Atiku. PMB will sweep NE but Atiku will get the 25% of the votes that he needs to make the second requirement for becoming the president.

So here is my conclusion which is the same as Mr. SKC Ogbonnia’s except for the change of names.

As for Buhari, the weak former President ought to be eulogized for his ambition. But he should forever blame his presidential quietus on the failure to demonstrate any lessons learned from the 4 years of gross misrule under the All Peoples Congress Party of Nigeria all of which he was a very powerful first-in-command. Adieu, Wazirin!

*** Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba writes from Boston, Massachusetts.