They are both Northerners. Two Fulanis currently engaged in who owns the grasslands in Nigeria for the benefit of their Cows?
Cow Fulanis in Nigeria are long distance trekkers. And their roe in politics too is a long distance ambition to remain permanently at the helm of affairs of the country. Uthman Dan Fodio had laid the tentative first steps for the conquest of the Niger Area.
The British felt the humility and seeming naivety of the typical northerner would be easily manipulated. For the erudite Southerners like Zik, Awo and Enahoro, they appeared too clever for the Colonialists who, if they wanted, could have deferred their independence of the country.
The Conservative North seemed more favourably disposed to the Colonialists over staying their welcome in Nigeria. As 2019 elections beckon, either President Muhammadu Buhari or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the front line presidential contenders, could cause an upset for the other.
Incumbent factor is a likely advantage for President Buhari. But with the long backlog of unfulfilled promises to the electorate, many seem persuaded to look out for an untested fellow in Atiku Abubakar. He had been number two man in this country running the affairs of the Nation with President Olusegun Obasanjo. They often ran into turbulent weather and with occasional acrimonies showing their under bellies.
But today, with his full return to the PDP, Obasanjo is now at the helm of campaigning for Atiku against Buhari. When two or more generals are up against Buhari, it becomes rather too tricky for the voters to decide where the pendulum would swing to. Atiku, in the eyes of the APC propagandists, is like a likeable rogue whose corruption acts had never been certified in any court of competent jurisdiction.
A wealthy politician and businessman, who displayed his political acumen in Port Harcout during the PDP primaries where he emerged the candidate that beats them all hands down. There were stories of how he dollarised the primaries with each voter allegedly collecting five thousand dollars.
He is a former Customs officer who is familiar with borders and incoming goods and services. Many people derogatively tag him as a human ATM machine, spewing monies where ever he went. Men of the People, as it were, in a clime that is depressed economically.
Nigerians are not from Freetown in Sierra Leone. But they readily go for the man with the cash without asking questions. Christmas and the New Year are here and these cash trapped scenario followership for a politician who spends freely without counting the cost is likely to have an upper hand.
President is harping essentially on corruption and threat to jail persons who loot public funds. Atiku is spending private funds to members of the public. On the flipside for Buhari, the senseless killings in the parts of the country by herders and the continued dangers of Boko Haram exploits in the North East are not too fancy stories to help Buhari’s cause.
The pendulum appears to be with the Atiku camp against the BUHARI followers shouting ‘Sai Buhari’. If we must give the North East to Buhari and South West to Buhari, it is possible for the South South, Middle Belt states and the South States going for Atku.
Since politics is not mathematics the other variables like the interest of the umpire, INEC, would go a long way to determining the over- all winner in the 2019 general elections. Prof Mahmoud Yakubu will be the ultimate decider in this game for 2019. And whoever controls the police, the DSS and Army could have an advantage on election day.
Will it be bloody or are we just going to fold our hands? Are we all railroaded into victory by the powers that be? Election rigging is now a serious crime that could be dealt with jail terms. The Senate just passed a Bill into law over-riding the Presidential with-holding of his assent to the Electoral Act amendment bill.
It will be tight and very precarious for the incumbent President, as all indications are pointing to a Change in the direction of a new Change to outwit Buhari’s Change.
I just hope there will be no Baboons and blood of Dogs being spilled. Nigerians should hold their hearts in their mouths if Buhari loses. Head or Tail, we are in for a long Winter as well as periods of uncertainties.
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