The phrase, 'the more things change, the more they remain the same,' is often attributed to the 19th-century French author, Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.
On Thursday evening, it was reported that Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, the son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had made a decision that many might deem surprising. In the turbulent world of politics, the truth of Karr's adage is evident. Abubakar, also known as Abba, announced his support for President Bola Tinubu, a political ally of his father who has now become a rival.
Abba's endorsement of Tinubu went even further, as he transitioned the campaign resources he had mobilized for his father during the previous election cycle into a support system for Tinubu. He instructed all coordinators and members of the Haske Atiku Organisation to pivot their allegiance to the APC and back the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his own words, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar stated, “My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to officially declare my departure from my former political party, with whom I campaigned in 2023, and my choice to join the APC. With this move, I will strive to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secures a second term in office in 2027.”
This situation draws parallels with the actions of Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had endorsed Muhammadu Buhari in the lead-up to the 2019 elections, despite his father's opposition. At that time, Obasanjo had distanced himself from Buhari, criticizing him at every opportunity.
The senior Obasanjo had urged the public to vote against Buhari, which his son openly rejected.
In a two-page endorsement document of Buhari, Olujonwo Obasanjo conceded that no individual is without flaws and outlined what he viewed as the achievements of Buhari's administration.
He remarked, “The current government has initiated the foundation-building process for future generations. They have thoroughly deliberated on the various challenges and complexities facing our nation to offer well-thought- out strategies and policies aimed at establishing a strong foundation for progress.”
“It’s crucial to recognize that this journey is not without difficulties. However, we should assess our past, our current situation, and our future trajectory. The existing administration has provided hope to ordinary citizens; we are witnessing the emergence of a new era.
“I wish to earnestly recommend that we all come together to support Buhari’s administration in its vigorous and relentless effort to ensure a fair distribution of wealth and resources among the masses, thereby fostering the growth and development of our nation. He is significantly uplifting and empowering local farmers, industrialists, women, SMEs, and entrepreneurs.
“The government is earnestly focused on development and has revitalized the steel sector. The Buhari Administration is committed to industrializing our country and transforming it into a producing nation, as demonstrated by the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the completion of the Baro and Lokoja ports.
“Moreover, the current administration has sought to tackle our dependency on petroleum imports by relocating refineries. These are just a few examples, and an entire book would be needed to detail the achievements and successes of this administration. This government has invested more in education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and road infrastructure to spur economic growth, even while grappling with decreasing revenue.
“The innovative solutions provided by the current administration are commendable. No one is without fault, and no government can claim perfection—only the Creator of the heavens and the earth is flawless. We are on a promising path and ought not to diverge from it.
“I urge the youth of our esteemed nation to unite and back the progress and significant strides made by President Buhari, who is working diligently to liberate us from prior hardships and constraints.
“We are indeed on a favorable path, and we cannot allow ourselves to regress into past oppressions. I implore all young Nigerians to come together in efforts to re-elect President Buhari in 2019,” he had stated.
Interestingly, Atiku, whose son’s actions have prompted this reflection, was the individual that Obasanjo supported back then.
It's important to recall that Atiku was Buhari’s primary opponent during the 2019 elections. Presently, he is pursuing the presidential nomination of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to challenge Tinubu again in what would be his third consecutive bid for the presidency, should he secure the nomination.
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