February next year will determine who takes mantle of leadership in Nigeria as the 16th president of the Country. Former vice-president,His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is a frontline candidate in the race and if he eventually wins is expected to form government by appointing key officials that will help in running the government and taking critical decisions. Most of these appointments will be statutorily across the board while others will be on the discretion of the president. Some of his political appointees will be more powerful than others based on level of contribution during the campaign and perhaps longtime relationship, while there are still others who may not like to hold political positions but are going to be calling shots in the government.
Since his declaration to run for the highest office in the country,there are quite a number of politicians from Anambra state who have pitched tent with the former vice-president and are believed will play important roles in his government should he emerge victorious at the polls. ANAMBRA PEOPLE captured some of the politicians from Anambra state who are visible in canvassing support for Atiku Abubakar and hold strategic position in his campaign council. They are;
OSITA CHIDOKA: former corp marshal and aviation minister. He served under President Goodluck Jonathan and has remained steadfast in PDP . He was special adviser to former PDP chairman, Uche Secondus and has always thrown his weight behind Atiku’s candidacy at all times. He is among the PDP big weights in Igbo land who have refused to follow Peter Obi to Labour Party notwithstanding their affinity and relationship at personal level. Chidoka being a smart technocrat is expected to be among Atiku’s think tanks when he comes into government if it so happen. Many are of the opinion that looking at the way he has positioned himself he may be named a minister or secretary to the government of the federation based on his track record in previous national assignments.
BEN OBI: a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and onetime Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the President of Nigeria. Senator Ben Obi working in cahoots with Atiku and others when he was at the national assembly killed Obasanjo’s third term bid. The political collosus who has remained a staunch member of PDP was the vice presidential candidate to Atiku in 2007 under ACN. He has never hidden his support for PDP and Atiku his former principal. He recently played host to the vice presidential candidate of PDP at Zik’s lecture, a program he personally bankrolls at UNIZIK. His failure to invite candidates from other Political parties except his party has made political watchers conclude that it was an indirect move and a subtle way to sell the candidacy of Atiku to the university community. Because of age, he may not want to take up any position in the new government but it is very likely he’ll be among the elder statesmen who will definitely have the ears of the president.
DAN ULASI: an experienced politician who had served PDP in different capacities, both in Anambra and at the party’s national secretariat. He was recently appointed as Technical Adviser on Contact and Mobilisation (South-east) to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In this position ,he will develop the best plan on how to reach out to Ndigbo and convince them on why Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy is best for them at this time. He seems to be showing capacity in the way and manner he is selling his candidate. He has remained vocal and has continued to convince Ndi Igbo on why they should support the candidacy of Atiku. He may equally not like a political appointment but may in one way or the other assist Atiku’s government sell his program in the south east.
UCHE EKWUNIFE: foremost PDP female senator in the South-East has thrown her weight behind the presidential bid of Atiku. The renowned senator on numerous fora has openly canvassed support for the party’s presidential candidate. In fact, Ekwunife is so visible to the extent that she was even accused of usurping the role of woman leader of the party . This rumor came up as a result of the cold shoulder given to the PDP woman leader at the Flag-off of the presidential campaign at Akwa ibom as a result of her links with Wike’s camp. If Atiku eventually wins, she is tipped to become the first female senate president of Nigeria, if she succeeds too at the polls . In this position or even as a ranking senator, she will have unfettered access to Atiku Abubakar. It’s also believed that even if she looses her senatorial bid, she’ll still be relevant around the corridor of power because of her contributions in the party.
OBIORA OKONKWO: is a foremost business mogul, academician and astute politician with extensive knowledge of the Nigerian political landscape. His credibility, local acceptance, and an extensive network of institutional and individual contacts not just in Anambra State, but Nigeria at large stand him out. Okonkwo has been a key pillar and financier of the PDP in Anambra State for over a decade. In addition to being a prosperous businessman, he has consistently received high marks from the public for his openness, sincerity, values, and results-orientedness. He was an erstwhile governorship aspirant of the party who pulled a surprise by coming second in the party’s governorship primaries even though he is from the central senatorial zone not favored for the governorship position by zoning. He was recently appointed as the state Director of the Atiku-Okowa 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee in Anambra state and this was predicated on his credentials, results-driven nature, and reputation as an honest and straight forward man who will always put the interests of the party first.
He is close to the presidential candidate and will play important role is his government even if not as a cabinet member but probably as a governor.
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