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ATIKU, NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY OWES YOU ONE
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*By Tunde Olusunle*
I’ve paid quite some attention in recent years to espousing the person, ideals and vision of Atiku Abubakar. A colourful and outspoken politician and statesman, he was the first Vice President of the present Fourth Republic who was in office from May 1999 to May 2007 and deputy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been celebrated in places for his sacrifices in ensuring in his time that democracy in the country was not subverted on the abattoir of greed and covetousness. He compelled legal inquisitions into and interpretations of sections of the constitution which were hitherto jettisoned by power-drunk leaders who desired to privatise leadership and governance. His sacrifices back in the days mitigated the propensity of people elected into executive positions to undermine their deputies with whom they were voted in on the same ticket. His perspiration also straightened up political parties, dissuading them from arbitrariness especially with regards to the imposition of candidates for electoral offices.
The manner of my immersion into “Atiku studies” reminds me of my proximity to my respected teacher and mentor, the distinguished Professor Olu Obafemi whose works I’ve also deeply engaged. Years ago, I subjected him to bouts and bouts of exhaustive interviews between his base in Ilorin and the nation’s capital Abuja. His oeuvre constituted part of the data for my doctoral thesis and I subjected him to rigorous inquisition on his literary works. On the sidelines, some of us his mentees were planning a 70th birthday festschrift for him and I had to grill him for an interview to be published in the compendium. Back in time in 1990, my schoolmate and fellow scholar, Wumi Raji, a professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) and I had interviewed Obafemi for the “Times Review of Literature and the Arts.” The literary digest was a creation of the Yemi Ogunbiyi era in the good old *Daily Times* which contributed tremendously to Nigeria’s cultural development.
Obafemi had remarked during my last interview engagement with him in January 2017 that he didn’t want to see me “anytime soon” on related issues! I had, he said, sufficiently “harangued, terrorised and squeezed” him that he would henceforth direct scholars desirous of engaging with his works to see me. I’ve had similar conversations with the multiple award-winning poet and scholar, Professor Niyi Osundare whose works I’ve been deeply engaging with since my undergraduate days. I remember the very hard bargaining we both had when I sent him a questionnaire of 20 questions as I assembled material for my research in 2013. We haggled and battled until we settled at 12 questions. Non-initiates often don’t know a fraction of what goes on in academics and the academia.
I beat even my own imagination when I took stock of my essays on the variegated strands of Atiku and his purpose sometime last year. I discovered I could actually come up with a handy compendium of my writeups. Yes the world is going “paperless” but the crinkling pages of a book would always stand the test of time. So I came up with a book of 120 pages titled: *Atiku: Perspectives On A Phenomenon* last November. For the discerning and instinctual, it takes conscientious lapping up of the atmosphere around Atiku to derive the inspiration to string words and expressions together. There’s typically some dynamism, some activity within his space which tells you a thing or two. Because Atiku is an area of interest for me, I also regularly dig up and study documents and dimensions about him.
This is the same way I stumbled on an essay titled “Atiku Abubakar: A journey of conviction” written by Anjorin Oludolapo and published in the November 8, 2023 edition of *Nigerian Tribune.* The presidential election had come and gone, the widely believed chicanery of the nation’s electoral umpire had been perpetrated, the contentious judicial adjudication by the highest court in the land on the poll had been pronounced. Even at that, Oludolapo felt compelled to revisit the person and ideals of Atiku Abubakar. For him, Atiku is “a symbol of unwavering courage and deep-rooted conviction.” The man he observes has “faced adversity and remained unyielding in his commitment to democratic principles and the betterment of Nigeria.” Submissions such as this are critical to focused perspectivisation of the classic Atiku Abubakar.
Oludolapo, a seeming Atiku aficionado notes that the trajectory of the *Wazirin Adamawa,* the traditional “prime minister” of the global Adamawa emirate epitomises “the spirit where the path chosen is fraught with challenges and where the outcome is uncertain.” Atiku, Oludolapo observes, has made humongous sacrifices and encountered a myriad of challenges often at great personal risk. Historicising Atiku’s endeavours on the democratic trail, Oludolapo notes that together with Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Atiku embarked on a “perilous journey to build a pan-Nigeria anchored on democratic ideals.” Lives and resources were lost to this project according to Oludolapo, while aggregating a generation of young Nigerians who shared the vision of a more inclusive and democratic future.
In an unusually clear-headed contention, Oludolapo remarks that Atiku’s vision for Nigeria has always extended beyond personal ambitions as has been more commonly bandied. His judicial victories in the face of adversity he observes have entrenched democratic norms which many political actors gloss over and take for granted contempraneously. Atiku, Oludolapo notes “is a testament to the enduring spirit of a man who has remained resolute in his commitment to democratic principles regardless of the challenges that he has faced.” He recalls Atiku’s successful judicial challenge of the emasculation of the Office of the Vice President by Obasanjo between 2006 and 2007, all the way to the Supreme Court. This he says has tempered the condescension with which the Offices of Vice President and Deputy Governor are viewed by their principals. Atiku’s action was not one of defiance but a commitment to upholding the rule of law.
Oludolapo alludes to Atiku’s sense of ethno-religious sensitivity and the imperative for balancing. In 1998, he chose a Christian, Bonnie Haruna to pair with him on his gubernatorial ticket in Adamawa State. Even when fate thrust him upwards to the position of Vice President in 1999, he rallied support for Haruna to be duly recognised as governor. He reaffirmed his support for Haruna to serve the constitutionally allowable two terms of four years each when he backed him for reelection in 2003. He refused to be swayed by jingoists intent on beating the drums of the numerical superiority of one section of the state over another. Atiku’s deft navigation of the Sharia brouhaha when he was Vice President also receives attention by Oludolapo. The subject was a potential time bomb capable of pitting the North against the South and festering a toxic atmosphere of fissions in the polity. Atiku ate the bullets when he castigated the “political implementation of Sharia law.” He took this position at the risk of being profiled as pro-South when he was expected to stand with his fellow northerners.
Beyond the puerile reduction of Atiku’s politics as being solely focused on ascending the highest office in the land, the documentation of Nigerian democracy will be incomplete without a fair and honest acknowledgement of his enormous contributions to the processes. His political career has been patently committed to the imperative to grow democracy, accord equitable platforms for political participation with strict adherence to rule of law, justice, equity and fairness. His mantra is to tap the best brains for national development and foster unity, fully cognisant of the availability of world class technocrats and professionals from across the country. Atiku is credited with identifying some of the key operatives in the Obasanjo/Atiku government all of whom have continued to hold their own on the global stage.
Moving forward, democracy in Nigeria must take firm root beyond orchestrated false starts, deliberate disregard for rule of law and the sickeningly eternal rat race for primitive acquisition. Tertiary institutions should by then find it imperative to endow chairs and establish institutes to advance the principles which the authentic frontrunners of democracy embodied. Initiatives such as an “Atiku Abubakar Institute for Leadership and Governance” should be purposely endowed in a rainbow of institutions across the land. My departed senior colleague and elder brother Ayo Olukotun was the pioneer occupant of the “Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair for Governance” at the Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State before he left us early last year for example.
Atiku’s *alma mater* the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria must lead the way in the cannonisation of his ideals and perspiration over time and space in the service of democracy. Such an invention will fast track the advancement of the frontiers of popular rule and rule of law beyond subsisting genuflections, the recurring “brake and quench” democracy. That’s the way a roadside mechanic would describe a malfunctioning automobile perennially coming on and ever going off each time it is ignited. As many as have been impacted by Atiku’s sweat, investments, dedication and selflessness in the deepening of true democracy in Nigeria owe him one, certainly and deservedly. This is the irreducible minimum bouquet of flowers for a man who continues, daringly, to take risks in the entrenchment and evolution of genuine democracy in our clime, into the fourth successive decade now.
Tunde Olusunle, PhD, is a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA)
The Nigerian Army is stepping up the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), simulation technology and data analytics to strengthen battlefield decision-making and improve its readiness to confront terrorists and other security threats.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open a Simulation Training Seminar at the Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria (LFSCN), Giri, Abuja.
Shaibu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Nigerian Military Training Support Assistance Team, Maj.-Gen. Umar Yusuf, said simulation technology would allow commanders to test operational plans, anticipate adversary moves and identify capability gaps before they become costly realities on the battlefield.
He described simulation as more than a training tool, saying it had become a critical command instrument for threat analysis, testing operational plans, strengthening predictive capabilities and exploiting identified vulnerabilities of adversaries.
«“Simulation is far more than a training aid but rather a critical command instrument for supporting data analysis, strengthening predictive capabilities and enabling commanders to match our strengths against identified adversary vulnerabilities,” he said.»
The COAS charged the centre to become a strategic hub for wargaming current and future operations, testing military doctrine and refining contingency plans.
He also directed the centre to draw continuously from lessons learned in operational theatres to identify weaknesses in existing plans and address capability gaps before they affect mission execution.
According to him, simulation-based training will not only boost combat readiness but also cut the financial and logistical burden associated with live exercises, including ammunition consumption and equipment wear.
Shaibu said the seminar, themed “Harnessing Simulation Technologies to Strengthen Nigerian Army’s Roles across Joint, Multi-Agency and Combined Operational Environments,” was particularly relevant to his command philosophy.
He said the initiative aligned with the Operational Readiness pillar of his vision of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
The Army chief said the seminar’s mix of technical presentations, operational case studies and practical simulation exercises would equip participants with better tools for evaluating operational plans and predicting adversary behaviour.
He urged participants to translate the lessons into improved wargaming, operational planning, command decisions and battlefield outcomes.
Earlier, the Director-General of LFSCN, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Wabili, said emerging technologies were increasingly being exploited by both security forces and terrorist groups.
Wabili noted that robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence and simulation software were becoming more accessible because of their dual-use applications.
He said the development had made it imperative for the Army to continuously adapt its strategies and integrate emerging technologies to maintain an operational edge over its adversaries.
«“The Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria is therefore in a unique position to employ advanced simulation software for continuous validation of operation plans and contingency plans,” he said.»
Wabili said the seminar would draw on the operational experience and expertise of resource persons to examine the application of simulation technology from different perspectives.
The seminar, which ends on Thursday, is expected to produce practical methodologies and recommendations for strengthening simulation-based training and operational planning in the Nigerian Army.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shaibu also inaugurated the Shooting Simulation Range at the centre.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19, 2026, for five by-elections across four states — Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Dayo Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Oketola said the elections would cover one federal and four state constituencies.
The federal constituency election will hold in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State.
The four state constituency elections will take place in Disina and Sakwa constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu Constituency in Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu Constituency in Kano State.
The commission is expected to release further details on the electoral arrangements ahead of the polls.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has inaugurated the Forum of State Directors-General of Public Procurement, with stakeholders describing the initiative as a major step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and efficiency in public spending across Nigeria.
The inauguration was held on Tuesday at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja and brought together Directors-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), or their equivalents, from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Development partners and other stakeholders in the procurement sector also attended the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the NGF, Abdulallateef Shittu, said the inauguration came at a critical time when the country was seeking to recalibrate its economic architecture.
Shittu stressed the enormous responsibility before state procurement authorities, noting that public procurement plays a critical role in budget implementation and the delivery of government projects at all levels.
He urged members of the forum to uphold professionalism, transparency and efficiency in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Director-General of the federal BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was aware of the inauguration of the Committee of Practice of Public Procurement and had given his support to the initiative.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to improving living standards and reducing poverty.
Adedokun described the inauguration as a significant development in Nigeria’s procurement history, saying an effective and transparent procurement system could attract foreign direct investment, boost GDP and stimulate the growth of domestic industries.
He urged members of the forum to strictly adhere to due process, fairness and transparency in the implementation of public projects.
ADSC, DDI Commend BPP Leadership
In a goodwill message, Dr Osahanze Idahosa, who represented the President/CEO of the Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC) and Douglas Development Institute (DDI), commended Adedokun for creating an enabling environment for collaboration and capacity development in the procurement sector.
Idahosa said Adedokun’s openness to partnerships had enabled ADSC and DDI to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s procurement systems at the federal level.
He described the inauguration as significant not only to the forum but also to the broader public procurement reform agenda, particularly at the subnational level.
“Subnational procurement systems are where policy meets people, where transparency and value for money either take root or falter,” Idahosa said.
He urged the new leadership of the forum to deepen accountability, efficiency, professionalism and transparency in public procurement across the states.
According to him, ADSC and DDI have supported procurement transformation through capacity-building programmes, study exchanges and institutional development initiatives aimed at modernising public spending.
Idahosa also recalled a study exchange to South Africa involving one of the forum’s members, saying the experience underscored the need to extend procurement reforms achieved at the federal level to the states.
He said public procurement was too important to governance to be left to isolated efforts, stressing the need for collective commitment across federal and subnational institutions.
He further noted that public procurement accounts for an estimated 15 to 30 per cent of GDP and is linked to between 50 and 60 per cent of leakages in public financial management.
ADSC and DDI congratulated the new leadership and pledged continued support through training, research, knowledge-sharing platforms and international study exchanges.
New Chairman Promises Collective Leadership
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman of the forum, Ehimoni Ibiyomi, described his appointment as the beginning great of things.
“Today is not simply another meeting or gathering of procurement regulators. It represents the beginning of a new institutional chapter in our collective efforts to strengthen public procurement administration, regulation and professional practice at the sub-national level in Nigeria.I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for the confidence reposed in me and for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of this Forum.I accept this responsibility with full recognition that the office is not about an individual. It is about collective leadership, institutional cooperation and a shared commitment to improving the quality of public procurement across our States.
APPRECIATION TO THE NIGERIAN GOVERNORS’ FORUMLet me begin by expressing our profound appreciation to the leadership and Management of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Secretariat for providing the platform for the formal inauguration and recognition of this Forum.
“This gesture is significant.For the Forum to function effectively, there must be a structured relationship between the institutions responsible for procurement regulation and the political leadership of the States.
“The Nigerian Governors’ Forum provides an important national platform through which the collective interests of State Governments can be discussed and advanced.
The recognition of our Forum within this broader institutional environment therefore creates an opportunity for procurement to receive the level of strategic attention it deserves in the governance and development agenda of our States.We are particularly grateful for the confidence demonstrated through this engagement, and we assure the Nigerian Governors’ Forum that we will justify this confidence through professionalism, responsibility, transparency and measurable results.
APPRECIATION TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
“I also wish to acknowledge the presence and support of the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement.
The Federal BPP has a critical role in Nigeria’s public procurement architecture, and the relationship between the Federal BPP and State Procurement Regulatory Authorities must be one of partnership, knowledge exchange, coordination and mutual institutional respect.Our Forum does not seek to duplicate or compete with the Federal BPP.Rather, we seek to complement the national procurement reform agenda by strengthening the sub-national procurement institutions and ensuring that the experiences, innovations and challenges of the States are effectively brought into national conversations on procurement reform.We look forward to a closer and more structured relationship with the Federal BPP in the areas of technical support, capacity building, professional development, regulatory knowledge sharing, research, standardization and procurement reform.APPRECIATION TO THE WORLD BANK AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
“Our appreciation also goes to the World Bank, particularly the team working under SPESSE, for its continued commitment to strengthening public procurement systems and professional capacity in Nigeria.
“The establishment and formal recognition of this Forum comes at a time when procurement is increasingly being recognized not merely as an administrative function, but as a critical instrument for achieving fiscal responsibility, value for money, infrastructure development, service delivery and sustainable economic development.We therefore see development partners not merely as sources of funding, but as strategic partners in institutional development, knowledge transfer, innovation, research, capacity building and sustainable reforms.
“As a Forum, we are prepared to develop practical programmes that can attract technical assistance and partnership from the World Bank and other development partners.We would particularly welcome collaboration in areas such as:professionalization of State procurement institutions;continuous capacity development for procurement officers;sustainable and socially responsible procurement;digital procurement and procurement data management;procurement performance measurement;development of procurement policies and guidelines;institutional strengthening;research and knowledge development; andpeer learning and exchange programmes.
APPRECIATION TO OTHER INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
“I equally acknowledge the presence and interest of the African Development Study Center, the Association of Procurement Professionals of Nigeria, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and other invited institutions and stakeholders.Their presence demonstrates a fundamental reality: public procurement cannot be successfully reformed in isolation.Procurement intersects with corporate governance, business registration and compliance, professional standards, research, finance, technology, infrastructure development and broader public-sector reform.
“For this reason, our Forum intends to pursue strategic partnerships with relevant institutions and organizations whose mandates can contribute to improving the quality and effectiveness of public procurement across the States.
THE VISION OF THE FORUM Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,As we commence this new chapter, we must be clear about what we want this Forum to become.Our vision is to build a strong, professional, collaborative and nationally recognized platform for the Heads of State Public Procurement Regulatory Authorities, capable of contributing meaningfully to procurement reform and good governance in Nigeria.
“We want a Forum that does not merely meet, but delivers”, he added.
Army Deploys AI, Simulation Tech to Sharpen War Against Terrorists
INEC Sets September 19 for By-Elections in Four States
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