Cross Fire: Atiku is consistently shrewd – Maigado

Former Coordinator of Frontier Movement for Atiku Abubakar, Plateau state chapter in 2007, Sanusi Inuwa Maigado, says Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s defection is a demonstration of his political sagacity and poses threat to the APC. He spoke to MUHAMMAD TANKO SHITTU.

Was Atiku’s defection from the APC and his likely rejoining the PDP a surprise to you, and what prompted the defection?
Many may see it as a surprise but to me it was even long overdue because it was something that many were expecting from Atiku Abubakar. He is a tactical politician of repute who has foresight and is very calculative, knows when to stay or move on to accomplish a purpose.
No surprise about his return because he was one of the founding fathers of the PDP, who became the Vice President of Nigeria on the platform of the party. Agreed, he was a strong pillar of the APC. He defected from the PDP then because he was not comfortable with so many wrongs that were perpetrated during the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
It was obvious that he was a principal actor in the coming of the APC administration, unfortunately when the government settled down, he was neglected. And he said it times without number that he was not consulted in any of their affairs. He is somebody that is ambitious and his ambition is to become the president of Nigeria. So definitely he has to move from the APC after having seen that he will not get the party’s ticket to run for president in 2019.

What chances are there that he will be selected as the PDP’s presidential flag bearer and does his exit pose any threat to the APC and President Buhari?
I personally see his defection as a threat to the APC. As a politician, I can analyse and see things the way they are and his exit from the APC is a big threat to the ruling party. Recall that it was his political machinery of Atiku, the PDM structure that threw up Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and eventually formed the federal government in 1999. As the Vice President, he served the country for 8 years and must have gathered lot of experience and built clout throughout the country.
Secondly, when Obasanjo wanted the third term, it was obvious that Atiku stood firmly along with others against it. They eventually left in 2007, and singlehandedly formed the Action Congress (AC) and contested for president but that was not realizable. He later returned to the PDP but his desire to contest the president was again blocked.
Atiku Abubakar, has the best political structure in this country, he has his boys in the Senate and the House of Representatives, some as Governors. So his exit should not be looked at as Atiku alone, definitely Atiku is going with lots of Senators, Reps members, Governors, so many politicians, elders and stakeholders within and outside the APC and in the nearest future it will start to unfold.

Governor El Rufa’i thinks Atiku’s popularity is far below President Buhari’s and believes the PDP would take a beating if it fields Atiku as its candidate?
El Rufa’i is entitled to his own opinion because it is obvious that he is not in good terms with the former Vice President, who brought him to limelight. So, when one is not in good terms with someone else he can say anything about that person, but he knows from his innermost heart that Atiku has the weight to contest.

Senator Muhammad Ndume has posted on his facebook page six reasons on why the North east will support Buhari not Atiku, would that be the position of the zone?
I do not think so. Ndume too entitled to his opinion. Yes it is true that this government has tried to improve security especially in the North East, I am still a member of the APC, and the truth is that people are suffering, and Ndume, El Rufa’i, you and I know this. Many Nigerians today cannot afford two square meals. True, security has improved but one cannot feed his family, and if one cannot feed his family security has not improved because he cannot secure his home.

Do you see him getting the PDP Presidential ticket against the likes of Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau and others, or if he loses out again exit the party?
I told you that he is a tactical politician, Atiku will articulate and analyse before going into the race and he will make sure that he will be able to pick up the ticket. If you look at all the other aspirants on a scale with Atiku, nobody can weigh as much as Atiku would.

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