By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde
Your Excellency,
Sure. I respect the position that you will not be a running mate for any presidential aspirant, after the so many contacts from the aspirants on the issue as you said openly last night.
The worrying procrastinations in the past two month must have turned you into a kind of pressure cooker and it was good that you blew the lid off in public such that nobody will lure you back into accepting the position.
Today, only one thing is supreme to the Governorship of Borno to you and to any Bornoan: the Presidency, which would offer the opportunity to exterminate the Boko Haram menace and those of many other places once and for all—as the commander-in-chief. Sir, you would have even saved the Fulani from themselves and accomplished the dream of Shehu Laminu of blessed memory. If it were for the Presidency, I would have joined you in the march from Yerwa to the Villa.
But a VP? No.
Apart from focussing on Borno peace restoration project, your personality is not cut for a VP, which I agree is quite an important position to the nation constitutionally. There would be conflict if you would be VP for one simple reason: Your personality is that of the driver, not a spare. I say this without disdain for anyone in a number two position. Let me illustrate.
With the benefit of hindsight, we can now easily see that it was the ‘mistake’ that our elder brother Atiku committed in 1999. My brother is a driver by all measures. Instead of remaining at the wheel as a Governor and showcase his leadership skills for future opportunities, he accepted the role of a spare—or even a briefcase, to use his word then—leaving that performance proof gap in every CV he presents for presidency in subsequent years.
If he had proved his mettle through outstanding performance as Governor of Adamawa, nothing but rigging would have stopped him from being the President by 2007. Performance in an executive position is the most powerful tool any candidate can possess. It showcases not only his spirit but also his substance. It pulls for him the crowd of victory.
But though H.E., the Wazirin Adamawa, tried to toe the line of his boss, his personality soon came demanding to express itself strongly, unlike H. E., Arc. Namadi Sambo. The niceties would not last. My brother Atiku soon proved to himself and to the nation that he was neither a spare nor a briefcase of anyone. He boldly attempted to unseat the Boss in 2003. And since then, he has been fighting for the legitimate position of the driver.
So press on with the good work in Borno. Finish it. I totally agree. May God continue to aid you. This is the exceptional case where a no to the villa is better than a yes, where a no loaf is better than half!
As all our political parties go through their primaries, we pray that may God the Most High make the best choice of leaders for our nation.
Remain blessed.
* Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde writes from Bauchi
