Lessons from North as El-Rufai leads Tinubu’s NSA, Ribadu, Tambuwal, Kashim Imam, others to Atiku

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Now we see that the problem of economic and development in Northern Nigeria is solvable. All they need to now do is to sit down and take a decision like United Arab Emirates took that led to the building of Dubai into investment, medical tourism and industrial destination of choice for all across regions of the world.

“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar welcomed the family of Kashim Imam, led by former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, to his Asokoro residence” in Abuja, says AbdulRasheed Shehu, Special Assistant on Broadcast Media to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in a statement dated August 21, 2024.

This was said as photos from the mini-event were shared on Shehu’s X social media handle on Wednesday.

According to Shehu, the delegation came to formally request the hand of his daughter, Hafsat Atiku Abubakar, in marriage.

“Prominent dignitaries at the event include the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and former Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, among others.

“The mini gathering was a testament to the esteem in which His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is held, and the significance of the occasion,” the statement said.

The DEFENDER reports the scene that is playing out among Northern politicians is testimony to the fact that politics – no matter how hotly played – is the last thing tribes of the Nigeria’s largest region can allow to separate them from one another.

When asked by The DEFENDER to react to the Wednesday’s development, a part-time Yoruba politician said it simply showed the power of unity among Northern politicians.

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He said, “You see why we say Kano is the headquarters of politics in the country and where is Kano, Northern Nigeria with centre for the control of all of these, by traditional and religious leadership, being the Sokoto Caliphate, where one of those politicians you see there, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, comes from.

“If this was in the South, Nuhu Ribadu, as unloved for his recent comments helping his principal, President Bola Tinubu, to say former President Muhammadu Buhari stole all Nigeria money as he is, would not be seen anywhere near Atiku, Tambuwal or El-Rufai for eyes service reasons.

“I have seen a social gathering in Lagos where politicians in Tinubu camp, who had been seated suddenly disappeared when certain other prominent politicians arrived because they don’t want to be seen in picture to be in the same gathering with the other politician or anyone else. I give it to Northern politicians abd I say kudos to Nuhu Ribadu for not disappointing or betraying the Northerner in him.

“I believe that fellow Southerners can now learn these lessons, once again, from the North and think that Tinubu himself has now seen that playing politics to unite and not to divide is the very basis for tge glory that keeps advancing the North and should be replicated here.

“Now we see that the problem of economic and development in Northern Nigeria is solvable. All they need to now do is to sit down and take a decision like United Arab Emirates took that led to the building of Dubai into investment, medical tourism and industrial destination of choice for all across regions of the world.

“They can achieve it since our many Firsts as Southerners in terms of education have not thought us to lead the way,” he said.

In a separate report to the pictures from the convergence in Atiku’s house, it was said that the momentous gathering served as a poignant testament to the transcendent power of unity and cooperation as former political adversaries temporarily set aside their differences to forge a harmonious alliance albeit social.

In a broader sense, it said, the meeting conveyed a profound message to the Nigerian populace, underscoring the imperative that politics need not be a zero-sum, do-or-die endeavour but, rather, it demonstrated that even opposition politicians can find common ground and unite in pursuit of a noble objective.

The heartening display of unity, exemplified by the El-Rufais, Tambuwals and Nuhu Ribadus among others with the Atikus, has resonated deeply with the Nigerian public, with numerous citizens taking to social media platforms to express their thoughts on the remarkable ability of politicians to put aside their differences and coalesce around a shared goal.

Reacting to pictures from the convergence in Atiku’s house, Ajibade Mayowa stated: “These people’s are one, citizens stop fighting your self for any politicians in Nigeria.”

“Politics without bitterness, you can’t take it away from these people,” another Nigerian with the name Deji John wrote on Facebook.

Olugbenga Salami said, “This is the beautiful side of politics in the north region unlike Southern we used to fight and finish our self. These people, I mean advance politicians are one big family.”