Grandiose Parlor

The Nigerian vice President is on a row. Despite all odds and severe opposition from the incumbent president, he made a formal declaration to run for president last weekend. Several hours ago, that odds has been reduced, even further: “Legal moves investigating corruption allegations against Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have been quashed by the High Court in Lagos.”

The High court ruling is a major boost to Atiku; who somehow has demonstrated an unexpected staying power. If this is not a demonstration of deep political roots and dexterity, then I wonder what it is. Atiku has survived and effectively countered, so far, attempts to discredit him and derail him from his political tracks. 

“Atiku’s bravura can only have the effect of compelling the Obasanjo camp which has sworn to stop him by all means, to come up with new strategies of containment. But what haven’t they done to him already? He has been accused of corruption and indicted in an official gazette. He has been taken to the Code of Conduct Bureau for trial. His aides have been hounded out of Aso Villa. His nominees have been driven out of government. He cannot travel out of Abuja without the President’s permission. He has been booed at Federal Executive Council meetings by Ministers who needed to use him to show their loyalty to the President. These days, he too avoids the Executive Council meetings. He is at best a spectator and a wall paper in the Presidency. He is not allowed to do anything. His opinions are dismissed even before they are expressed.”: Atiku’s Leap of Faith - Reuben Abati  

What’s next? The feds would appeal the case and move to Appeal Court? I predicted Atiku would be impeached, several months back. It seems I have to eat my words because the aura of impeachment seems far from Atiku’s head.