Post by Phebe Obong (@PhebeObong)

Yesterday, I found myself thinking about the upcoming general elections, and a question came up:

“What do you think about Atiku as a presidential candidate?”

As a journalist who covers political developments, I decided to revisit some historical facts. And one particular event caught my attention.

Let me tell you a quick story about what I found.

In 1998, as Nigeria prepared for a return to civilian rule, Atiku Abubakar secured the PDP’s nomination to contest for the governorship of Adamawa State.

In January 1999, he won the governorship election.

The people of Adamawa had chosen him to lead their state. They had given him a mandate, trusting him to deliver on the promises and vision he had presented to them.

But shortly after the election, another opportunity emerged.

Olusegun Obasanjo, the PDP’s presidential candidate, selected Atiku as his running mate.

Atiku accepted the nomination.

Obasanjo and Atiku went on to win the presidential election, and on May 29, 1999, Atiku was sworn in as Vice President of Nigeria rather than taking up the governorship he had won.

Boni Haruna, his running mate in the governorship election, subsequently became governor of Adamawa State.

Now, let’s pause and think about this.

What did this change mean for the people who had voted for Atiku?

What happened to the expectations they had placed on him?

And what should we make of a political decision in which a higher office takes precedence over a governorship mandate already won?

To be clear, accepting a vice-presidential nomination is not, in itself, proof that a politician lacks a commitment to public service. But the circumstances raise a legitimate question about political ambition, electoral mandates and accountability to voters.

For me, leadership goes beyond the title attached to an office. It also involves respecting the trust people place in you and being accountable for the mandate they give you.

This is why I believe Nigerians should look beyond political popularity and campaign promises when evaluating anyone seeking public office.

We must ask questions about their records, their decisions, their policies and how those decisions align with the interests of the people they seek to lead.

So, here is the question I would like us to reflect on:

When a politician chooses a higher political office over a mandate already entrusted to them by voters, how should we assess that decision?

And what lessons should this historical episode offer Nigerians as we evaluate leadership ahead of the next general elections?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

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