Vice President Atiku's plans on becoming President Atiku....

VP Atiku Abubakar writes Obasanjo
says he'll contest 2007 presidential election


When as President, you led us out of the ‘years of the locust’ in 1999, we inherited a country in deep economic crisis owing to decades of excessive, direct state involvement in all spheres of economic activity, corruption, inefficiency and unsustainable debt profile. Our physical infrastructures were in a serious state of dilapidation, and security of persons and property could not be guaranteed. Admittedly, we have encountered a lot of challenges in the implementation of these policies. These include the discovery that the level of infrastructural and, especially, institutional decay was deeper than we thought, stiff opposition from entrenched interests as well as serious inadequacy of the available number of competent and committed personnel. In spite of these enormous challenges, we have, under your exemplary, inspiring, patriotic and courageous leadership, made tremendous progress in moving the nation towards a private sector-led economy, improved infrastructure and security.

Your skilful conduct of our foreign relations has moved us far away from the pariah status which we inherited to a position where we command the respect of the international community. You have provided effective leadership not only in the West African sub-region but also in Africa and, indeed, the Commonwealth. Your untiring crusade for fairness in matters of foreign debt and international trade has brought a lot of benefits to all the disadvantaged nations of the world. Our journey so far may have been chequered but I have never shied away from challenges and responsibilities. Each time I have been assigned a role either on an adhoc or long-term basis, I have approached it with the determination to work assiduously and to act decisively to deliver the desired results.

Each time I was called upon to assist you in identifying individuals who could help in actualising our vision, I did so with the main objective of identifying those who can add value. By the same token, I should have no difficulty whatsoever in identifying those who can assist me in running this country efficiently if offered the opportunity. Besides, I believe that God will keep you physically strong and intellectually sound so that you can continue to assist and guide your successor. It is in the light of the foregoing that I write to respectfully inform you of my intention to offer myself as a candidate in the 2007 presidential election that is expected to usher in a new government at the expiration of our tenure in May 2007. I have come to this momentous decision with a deep sense of responsibility after careful reflection on the state of our nation, what we set out to achieve when many of us came together to form the Peoples Democratic Party at the end of the most brutal military dictatorship, what we have achieved in the last seven years and what, I believe, I can contribute in the years ahead to consolidate these achievements.”

Mr. President may be familiar with Henry Kissinger’s profound assertion that every statesman is, to some extent, a victim of circumstances because he inherits a situation which he did not create and he is the product of a background which he can no longer change. As two people with different backgrounds working together in a very challenging environment and dealing with enormous problems and different individuals, it is understandable that we have had some disagreements over the years. It is quite instructive that you have said repeatedly that we have no disagreements in personal or policy issues but we only have political differences. I am not ashamed of admitting the existence of political differences because it is in the nature of politics that none of us involved can claim to have retained our innocence. In the process, we may have been a bit unfair to each other and even to ourselves.

I only pray that we will live long enough to write our memoirs and that, with the passage of time, we will be as kind as possible in judging each other. Mr. President, let me assure you, however, that I do not and have never taken things personal. By the same token while I sincerely hope that you would support me in my effort to seek the mandate of the electorate, I will take it with philosophical equanimity if the support is not forthcoming. Whatever your decision in this regard, I will still hold you in very high esteem as a benefactor.