It is no longer news that Nigerians have predicted a possible partnership between the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 Elections and former Nigeria Vice President, Atiku Abubakar GCON, and that of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi as the most formidable opposition to the APC-led government in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
What perhaps is news now may be the throwing up of names of other equally young, vibrant, experienced personalities that can fit perfectly into the equation should the Atiku/Obi merger meet a brick wall.
The B plan has names such as the fiery, vociferous clergyman, the Reverend Father Mbaka, and Sen. Augustin Akobundu, former Abia State Deputy Governor, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo and Abia State Governor Alex Otti have been touted from the South East, while current Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi are those seriously considered from the South South.
All the names listed have track record of sterling performance and service delivery, which has endeared them to Nigerians over time, with most winning accolades in the course of their stewardship. For lack of space and want of it, I shall handpick just a few for assessment.
SEN. AUGUSTIN AKOBUNDU is a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army and former Minister of State for Defense under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He is the current Senator representing Abia Central in the Senate. He replaced Darlington Nwokocha, whose election was nullified by the Court of Appeal on 4 November 2023.
Akobundu’s wealth of experience as a retired military officer will prove valuable and engender a seamless civilian/ military relationship and help bolster the war against insurgency in Nigeria. He is an asset to any administration.
REVEREND FATHER MBAKA.
Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka, popularly known as Father Mbaka, is a Nigerian Catholic priest, musician and the founder of Adoration Ministries in Enugu, noted for being one of the most prominent religious leaders in the south-eastern part of Nigeria.
Father Mbaka has been consistent in directing, advising, and forewarning every administration in Nigeria since he was ordained a priest. But one can not help but like Rev Father Mbaka for his deep-rooted interest in the good governance of the country.
CHARLES SOLUDO is a Nigerian politician, banker, economist and currently the fifth governor of Anambra State. He was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, under President Obasanjo. Soludo has been a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund, the University of Cambridge, the Brookings Institution, the University of Warwick, and the University of Oxford as well as a visiting professor at Swarthmore College (USA). He has also worked as a consultant for a number of international organisations, including the World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the United Nations Development Program.
His wealth of experience as an economist is highly needed, particularly now that the country’s economy is in tatters. He will prove to be just the right kind of man in the team to rescue Nigeria from impending doom.
MR UDOM EMMANUEL is a two-term Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a renowned banker, Chartered Accountant as well as Audit Manager of the prestigious Price Waterhouse Coopers who before his foray into politics served as an Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc.
His two terms as Governor of Akwa Ibom State witnessed remarkable strides in industrialization, infrastructural consolidation, and human capacity building. His superb management of human and material resources is still a reference point to date. A team comprising Udom Emmanuel would be impregnable.
With Atiku Abubakar as the arrow-head of the incoming administration, supported massively by any of the afore-mentioned political gladiators, victory is ascertained and who can deny what an advantage this would be in the quest to rescue the country from sinking into the abyss.
Nigerians should in one accord impress upon the citizens to show concern in the desire to correct the wrongs and restore dignity once more to the country as it seeks to reclaim its rightful place as the giant of Africa.
Let’s make Nigeria great again!
Chief Anthony Onwuka
Is a political analyst
