Murtala Ayitogo: Why Atiku’s greatest political act may be stepping aside

There comes a constituent successful authorities erstwhile a antheral indispensable determine whether helium wants to beryllium remembered arsenic a contender oregon arsenic a statesman. For Atiku Abubakar, that infinitesimal whitethorn beryllium now.

No superior perceiver of Nigerian authorities tin contradict Atiku’s spot successful the communicative of the Fourth Republic. He helped physique the modern PDP, served arsenic Vice President during 1 of Nigeria’s astir economically transformative civilian administrations, and financed absorption authorities erstwhile galore were excessively acrophobic to situation power. Even aft repeated defeats, helium remained committed to electoral democracy. For millions of Nigerians, particularly successful the North, helium became the enduring look of absorption politics.

That deserves respect.

But respect cannot go blindness, nor gratitude go governmental hostage-taking. History is often harshest to leaders who mistake endurance for inevitability.

Nigeria’s absorption stands astatine its astir consequential crossroads successful implicit a decade. The state is struggling nether inflation, insecurity, unemployment, currency instability, rising debt, and deepening nationalist despair. This is not conscionable different predetermination rhythm oregon different section successful a acquainted governmental rivalry. The 2027 predetermination whitethorn find whether Nigeria inactive has the organization resilience to retrieve from years of economical and governmental decline.

That is precisely wherefore the opposi...