Despite the fact that politicians know that the vicissitudes of political life are staring them in the face, reminding them of the saying “Soldier come, soldier go, but barrack remains,” those pursuing or occupying elective offices want to stay relevant and stake a claim to political longevity.
And while they know that it is impossible to be in the political space forever and that the onus is on them to fend opponents off, political actors are, most times, quick to attest to the fact that the sky is vast enough for all birds to fly without collisions.
In Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party are undisputed high-fliers whose contributions to the country’s political revival will permanently be imprinted on the minds of Nigerians.
Atiku and Obi, like Paul in the Bible, have fought the good fight and also kept the faith. However, unlike the Apostle who said he had completed his ministerial race, the two political juggernauts would reckon that they still have much to offer Nigerians.
Both men jostled in 2023 for Nigeria’s presidential seat against Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, the party in power in Nigeria, but Tinubu managed to circumvent hurdles posed by both men.
Atiku and Obi have, however, dusted themselves up and are already spoiling for a must-win rematch against Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
Their brands of opposition politics, according to some analysts, are topnotch and have been keeping the government on its toes.
And as the two men’s compasses are dialed in the direction of Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, Nigeria, keen observers have surmised that in 2027, the powers that be should expect a bigger, fiercer fight for the soul of Nigeria.
Atiku is currently 77 years old and will clock 78 on November 25, but age has not slowed him down one bit.
He falls within the age grade of Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States of America, and judging by his remarkable power and ability to be physically and mentally active, Atiku will certainly not be a walkover opponent in 2027 when he and other contestants jockey for power.
Obi, on the other hand, is 63 years old and has proven on many occasions that he has the love of his country at heart. His energy and charisma puts him heads and shoulders above other would-be candidates and he is well-tested for the rigours of a presidential campaign.
Obi is a polarising figure. But that has not stopped his meteoric rise to fame in Nigeria’s political stratosphere. And driven by the desire to bring about a change in the country’s political doctrine, it would take more than a small army to stop his advancement.
It is, however, these sterling qualities and intimidating credentials of politicians like Atiku and Obi that analysts say prevent the emergence of new but hugely talented politicians from playing in the big boys’ club.
“But Tinubu knows that Nigerians will hold him accountable. The people have been experiencing unprecedented hardship and inflation, and they have also intimated the President that only a 5-star performance from him in his first term can guarantee his reelection in 2027”
The analysts added that many Nigerians want to break from the “overbearing” influence of the APC and PDP, and yearn for a political messiah that would wipe the floor with the two big parties. But so far, this intention has remained nothing but a pipe dream.
A political analyst, Alex Nwadike, corroborated this position when he told The Point, “In Nigerian politics, the old don’t want to leave the stage. And if they don’t go away, how will newcomers, especially in the presidential scene, be the centre of attraction and attention?
“And then look at the APC and the PDP. It is like Nigerians are stuck with them forever. Both parties have been riding roughshod over other political parties since 1999.
“Of course, while the PDP maintained their name, it changed a couple times before they could coin APC. But if you ask me, they are the same.
“This is why when anyone talks about expecting a messiah in Nigeria, I simply laugh. It won’t be possible in 2027. I don’t even think it will be possible in 2032, unless our politicians clock 100. But we will keep hoping.”
Because Nigeria is a country divided along ethnic and religious lines, reaching a consensus on a messiah is usually taxing. The country’s psyche has also been wounded and according to analysts, leadership, through the years, is to blame.
The last time Nigerians, and it did not matter whether they hailed from the North or South, got behind the presidential ambition of a politician was during the Hope ’93 campaign of the late MKO Abiola.
Abiola was a unifying politician. He made what some Nigerians today would have called “grandiose” promises, which is about as real as it gets in electioneering campaigns. He was also down to earth.
Unfortunately, Abiola’s vision for a new Nigeria was not achieved. His life was allegedly snuffed out by the military in prison as he fought to recover his stolen June 12 mandate, and Nigeria has since continued to grapple with the loss of the colossus.
Another Nigerian that was touted as a messiah was Goodluck Jonathan. The former President came into the presidential picture proper in 2011 after he sold an “I had no shoes” speech to Nigerians, who then rallied behind him.
According to Nigerians, Jonathan was the man to take the people to the “promised land” and save the country from the scourge of the dreaded Boko Haram sect that was terrorizing the country. Jonathan indeed came off as a breath of fresh air.
It took the 2015 presidential election, which Muhammadu Buhari won, for Jonathan to realise that Nigerians had rejected him as their messiah, and regrettably, the country was back to square one.
Buhari, after his inauguration as President, dazzled Nigerians with some flash of administrative brilliance. As if on cue, the economy stabilized momentarily, the exchange rate bounced back a bit and even the privatized Power Holding Company of Nigeria, surprised Nigerians with unexpected power.
But Nigerians saw, soon enough, how that their expectations were cut off. The Buhari magic fizzled away and soon, nearly all the rudimentary achievements disappeared.
Nigeria also went into a recession and it then occurred to distraught citizens that they were wrong about Buhari’s messianic attributes.
Whether Nigeria’s incumbent, Tinubu, is the expected messiah remains to be seen, however. The former Governor of Lagos State himself has never pretended to be one.
But Tinubu knows that Nigerians will hold him accountable. The people have been experiencing unprecedented hardship and inflation, and they have also intimated the President that only a 5-star performance from him in his first term can guarantee his reelection in 2027.
On his part, Tinubu knows he does not have ample time on his side. One wrong move can turn him to an overnight political foe before Nigerians.
An Anambra State-based political analyst, Damion Ugorji, said that Nigerians should not deceive themselves by thinking that the idea of a political messiah can be achieved.
Ugorji also said that what Nigerians need is not a messiah, but a “hardworking and smart politician.”
“I think the idea of a political messiah is a mirage. It is an unrealistic hope that cannot be achieved. No politician can be a messiah, let’s not deceive ourselves.
“Nigerians should, therefore, stop thinking that some so-called messiah will appear to deliver them politically.
“This is also the reason why you will have leaders upon leaders coming but failing to meet the people’s expectations.
“The Jews who had a messiah could not be delivered by him. In fact, they killed him and up till now, they are waiting for their messiah. But I don’t think another one will ever come again.
“And if you noticed too, in Nigeria, a lot of people thought that Obi was the messiah. But now, many who thought so are having a rethink now.”
“So, Nigeria does not need a messiah. What we need now is a hardworking and smart politician who has the people’s interests at heart,” Ugorji said.
