The way of marabouts: Let’s put this in perspective. Taking some insightful liberties is a part of the tools of this writing trade, so we say upfront that ATIKU actually may not have 1001 marabouts serenading him right now. At least EXPRESSO hasn’t counted them, but the story over the years has always been that this is the season of the wizened clerics and quasi-soothsayers in the camp of the Khalifa.
It’s a well known tale that Abubakar Atiku, also known as the Khalifa by his acolytes, loves the counsel of hooded imams and otherworldly men at a time like this when crucial political decisions are to be taken.
With the race for the 2027 presidential election heating up, it is said that this time, it’s not just marabouts from Nigeria who are at work but an expanded shroud of crouching denizens from some West African countries, the sahel and as far away as the Arabia.
It’s like a coven of guiding spirits meeting minds and helping the Khalifa think through what’s probably the most important decision of his life so far. Of course, Atiku has been under immense pressure not to run this time.
More perspectives: most ordinary minds would suffer rapid palpitations on hearing the word: Marabouts. But these are basically Islamic clerics, usually advanced in age, who have mastered not just the Qur’an, but the art of life and living. They are leaders and influencers in their communities and spheres of authority where official bureaucracy is often absent or in retreat.
They are also mediators, magicians and even mandators at a time a metal fist may be necessary last resort for a desired result.
In other words, marabouts are not merely guileful soothsayers, but much more.
LIKE MARABOUTS, LIKE MOMODU: Marabouts are basically advisers to power. But the snag is that many of them make-believe that they’re possessed of extra terrestrial powers or that they know much more than they let on.
But EXPRESSO wagers that most of them are con artists, confidence tricksters and people beholden to power and powerful men.
Nigeria’s entertainer, PRman and media impresario, Dele Momodu may be likened to a marabout of sorts.
The difference is that while the one is provincial and scruffy in his shawls, the other is often decked in designer dresses.
While the rustic marabout probably still rides in donkeys and camels in his dusty domain, Momodu would fly first class or private jet. He would live in five-star accommodations, do five-star dinners and leisure all on the bill of his client.
But let it be known that the bush marabout is true and beautiful in his monasterial living, in his relentless search through the Word and for wisdom. He fasts, he prays, he speaks softly. In fact, some of them could dig up some spiritual substance if they are not overawed by little god’s like the Khalifa whom they have elevated to the status of deity.
It’s said that Atiku regards a marabout more than a Harvard professor of Economics.
And they know exactly what to tell him:
“O Khalifa, the crown is on your head!
Unlike the other time, this time, it’s pure gold of Arabian hue. And, bless your soul, it sits magnificently on your head as if you were born with it!
” O Khalifa, the crown on your head is your destiny, not even you can help it…”
On and on, they would croon unsolicitedly, each time they set their eyes on him!
No human can survive such an evisceration of the mind. Not in the least ambitious Atiku.
But metro marabouts, not unlike Momodu (Reno Omokri, Daniel Bwalya, Ken Okonkwo and their ilk) sometimes turn out quite stressful to their clients. More loathsome, however, is that they come with unduly heavy emotional and financial invoices.
They don’t come cheap; they also get into trouble as they all too often, trip on political landmines.
For instance, Momodu raised the hackles of opponents and supporters of his principal recently when he suggested that Peter Obi and Goodluck Jonathan had already lost the cause as President Bola Tinubu had hijacked the entire South of Nigeria. Haba!
This singular statement rankled the APC strategists, unsettled OBiDIENTS and angered the GEJ group. Why would anyone turpedo the coalition before it has formed?
Such zealotry comes with being the unreflective urban marabout with eyes more on his bank balance.
The urban marabouts are rogue advisors who are duodenal and think through their tummies. For why in the world would a Momodu with all his supposed learnings be rooting for an ailing 80-year-old to preside over Nigeria in 2027?!
We witnessed Buhari preside from London hospitals; today Tinubu virtually operates from French health facilities yet Momodu is angling for Atiku to rule Nigeria from luxurious Dubai hospice! He doesn’t give a hoot about Nigeria, about you and I or even posterity, like his grandchildren. All Momodu cares about is himself and his personal gains.
He and the likes of Reno, Bwalya, Okonkwo are quintessentially rogue marabouts and fortune hunters!
ATIKU’S VAULTING AMBITION: It’s actually the battle of his life. This is Atiku’s last stand on earth and in heaven … When he shall stand before his maker at the pearly gate, and Baba would jocularly chide him: “Olboy you try o!”
Khalifa wearing his famous scowl, now set like a granite sculpture, would answer: “Yeah, bloody hell I did!”
Baba: “Well, you know what it’s going to be now.”
Khalifa: “Whatever; wherever,” he would retort, haughty and defiant like a promontory rock.
Verdict : the die is cast and even the heavens can’t make Atiku backtrack, it seems.
ADC: ATIKU DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS: Political watchers have followed the formation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Atiku. The coalition is born out of the need to have a bulwark against the rampaging ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC). But too soon, ADC has become an Atiku franchise.
Already, it has been structured to have him as the presidential candidate. This has left many founding members disillusioned.
Many founders were under the illusion that ADC would adopt Peter Obi straightaway as the arrowhead to defeat the bumbling behemoth, APC.
Obi is to ADC today, what Buhari was to APC in 2014. And even more. Unlike, Buhari, Obi is young, full of health and enjoys massive national traction not known in Nigeria’s political history.
The watching world expected Atiku and the emerging formidable coalition to rally behind Obi and usher in a new Nigeria. Straight forward!
Atiku was to be the supremo and ultimate statesman who berthed this new age and new day for a glorious new Nigeria, standing tall in the sun among the comity of nations. Atiku was to emerge as the superhero of Nigeria’s modern political history.
He was at the periphery of a glorious final chapter of a not-too- illustrious biography.
Almost everyone genuflected, cajoled, and even prostated to make Atiku see this beautiful picture. No way. You don’t listen to mortal men when you’re in the midst of marauding marabouts.
Recently, to the shock of the coalition, he told the BBC he would run in 2027. He would contest in the primary and respect the result therefrom.
Only a neophyte would engage Atiku in a primary in a party he has formed in his image and imagination. Of course , Peter Obi isn’t stupid, no matter what you think of him.
It would serve Obi best to withdraw, not just from the race, but from politics rather than to go to a primary contest with Atiku.
It would amount to an inglorious political suicide for Obi to do that.
ATIKU WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT: Of course Atiku will never be president of Nigeria. Well, tell that to the horde of marabouts around him. But that’s the reality shorn of chanting marabouts.
For instance, his baggage will fill up a dozen rickety LAWMA trucks. Aged and ailing, Nigeria needs a new beginning.
The youths need a new beginning which they have identified in Peter Obi. They passed the message in 2023 when Obi with a ragtag Labour Party, won the presidential election landslide in the east, west, north and south.
It’s only in four states out of 36 (and Abuja) that Obi didn’t win 25 % of total votes.
It was an Obi revolution that was stymied by INEC’s infamous ‘glitch’. Some of the chief riggers in the APC have openly confessed to this.
FEAR OF OBI: The APC and incumbent president, Tinubu are so scared of Obi that the only way they know to stop him is to make sure he’s not on the ballot.
Tinubu and his gang have ensured to infiltrate every single mushroom political party in the land apart from the ADC, now occupied by Atiku. Some observers would even wager that Tinubu may have ‘reached’ Atiku ostensibly to keep Obi out of the ballot at any cost.
Well, one can’t vouch for any Nigerian politician, especially of the old order, but ADC not adopting Obi as an automatic candidate leaves room for vile speculations.
If Atiku COULD NOT beat Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and lastly, Tinubu in 2023, then not Tinubu as incumbent.
The reasons are too numerous. He’s seen as same of the same with Tinubu. Atiku is seen as a soulless usurper of the turn of Southerners and the destroyer of the PDP because of his wanton crave for power.
Atiku cannot be president of Nigeria but it’s okay if he resolves to keep trying till the end!
ENDGAME: Well, it is po-ssible that ADC and the coalition have been applying distractive strategy all this while to keep the ‘enemy’ guessing. If that is so, let them resolve to do the needful (adopt Obi today!). Even one more day may be too late. There’s a lot of work to be done. APC had to do a sham primary in 2014 after they had adopted Buhari as candidate!
On the other hand, if what’s happening is sheer political folly (of Atiku grabbing the ADC space as he did PDP), then let Obi take a stand today:
QUIT ADC AND QUIT POLITICS IF NO OTHER PARTY WILL ADOPT HIM.
Finally, if Nigeria doesn’t love Obi, let him leave Nigeria to bear her cross. History will vindicate him; enough of his unrequited love.
•Steve was editor at The Guardian and THISDAY among others. Feedback steve.osuji@gmail.com
