Why Atiku Abubakar Still Deserves a Fair Judgment from Nigerians
One of the biggest arguments against Atiku Abubakar is simple: “He was Vice President during the Obasanjo era.” For many Nigerians, that period still brings mixed feelings. But the real question we should be asking is this: is it fair to judge a Vice President as if he were the President?
Atiku Abubakar was not the Head of State. He did not control the armed forces, the budget, or the final executive decisions. In Nigeria’s system, the Vice President supports, advises, and represents—he does not command. Holding Atiku fully responsible for every success or failure of that administration ignores how power actually works.
Beyond that era, Atiku’s personal record tells a different story. He is one of the few Nigerian politicians who built successful businesses outside government, employing thousands of Nigerians. This matters in a country where unemployment and economic survival are everyday struggles. A man who understands the private sector is more likely to strengthen it—not suffocate it.
Atiku has also been consistent on key national issues: restructuring, devolution of power, and strengthening states so Nigeria can grow from the bottom up. These ideas are not new slogans for him; he has pushed them for decades, even when they were unpopular.
Critics often say, “We’ve seen him before.” But maybe the real issue is that we haven’t truly listened. Experience should not always be treated as a crime. In a country battling insecurity, economic instability, and weak institutions, experience can be an asset—if Nigerians choose to use it wisely.
Voting should not be about anger or old emotions alone. It should be about capacity, clarity of ideas, and understanding how Nigeria works. Whether one supports Atiku or not, dismissing him simply because he was once a Vice President does not move Nigeria forward.
The real debate should be this: Do we judge leaders by assumptions—or by facts, roles, and proven ideas?
