The “Miracle of Dammam” often known as “The Dammam Miracle” was the title given to the results of the quarter-final soccer match between the Nigerian U-20 soccer staff and the USSR U-20 soccer staff on the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia which the Nigerian facet went on to win on penalties. The match created a footballing file as Nigeria turned the primary staff to return again from 4 objectives right down to equalise after which go on to win a FIFA World Cup match at any degree.
Forward of 2027 normal election, formidable politicians are jostling to belong to 1 political get together or the opposite they imagine would allow them realise their subsequent ambition.
It was in opposition to this backdrop that some aggrieved politicians determined to exit their former associations to type a coalition within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Analysts are saying that going by the fierce curiosity and the array of juggernauts whose sole curiosity is to clinch the get together’s presidential ticket, it could take the Miracle of Dammam for sure members of the coalition to emerge its candidate in 2027.
Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi has thrown his hat into the ring and is able to battle for the nation’s quantity seat with others forward of the 2027 normal election.
Though it isn’t the primary time Amaechi can be displaying curiosity in that regard, he seems extra critical this time round to clinch the ADC ticket forward of others and problem the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who’s more likely to get the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to actualise his re-election bid.
Amaechi’s ambition to rule the nation got here crashing in 2023, after Tinubu defeated him within the APC’s presidential main. Tinubu went on to defeat different presidential candidates to win the presidential ballot.
Nevertheless, Amaechi has by no means forgiven him and experiences had claimed that he was bitter with the way Tinubu allegedly bullied different aspirants to clinch the ruling get together’s ticket.
He has remained one of many hardest critics of Tinubu’s administration since then. Upon resignation from the ruling get together, some months in the past, Amaechi mentioned he by no means believed in President Tinubu’s capability to guide the nation, saying his administration was impoverishing Nigerians along with his insurance policies, accusing the Tinubu-led administration of corruption.
In line with him, “I’ve by no means believed that Tinubu is a fabric to control the nation.”
Learn additionally: Intimidation and corruption mark by-elections, says ADC
Amaechi able to rescue Nigeria
The previous Rivers governor mentioned that he was dedicated to rescuing the nation and easily wouldn’t stroll away or abandon Nigeria for the sake of these in energy.
That to him was the foremost motivation for becoming a member of drive with different opposition politicians, to arrange a coalition which just lately fused with the ADC forward of 2027.
Talking just lately in affirmation of his presidential bid, Amaechi outlined his focus, whereas saying that he was assured of defeating President Tinubu within the 2027 presidential election if he secures the ticket of the ADC.
Amaechi mentioned he knew Tinubu’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I let you know; I’ve not had an election in opposition to Tinubu. I do know Tinubu very effectively. I do know his strengths. I do know his weaknesses. And I do know that if I’m allowed to fly the flag of ADC, I’ll defeat Tinubu for positive.
“I problem any politician, residing or lifeless, to return ahead and say I used to be a part of rigging.
“In reality, all of the appointments given to me by APC to affix election planning committees, I’ve refused to take part.
“There was nobody I participated in. Why? As a result of I do know what they focus on. I take heed to them. I hear them. If I get the ticket, I’ll reveal these issues,” Amaechi mentioned.
He said that he had by no means participated in any rigging in anyway, and won’t do it.
“What I promise to do now, going ahead, is to cease rigging,” he mentioned.
Amaechi promised to alter the structure from indigeneship to citizenship, saying that he’ll tender his resignation if corruption doesn’t finish in a single month in Nigeria.
In line with him, “If I turn into president, I’ll change the structure from indigeneship to citizenship.
“If I don’t finish corruption in Nigeria inside one month, I’ll tender my resignation.
“It enrages me that these very influential among the many ruling class go to CBN typically to steal cash; if they may use all the cash they’re pocketing to enhance safety and the financial system, Nigeria wouldn’t be in such dire straits
“The worst INEC chairman within the historical past of Nigeria is Mahmood Yakubu.”
The previous governor of Rivers State added that he wouldn’t reverse the removing of subsidies if elected president.
Reasonably, he promised to direct the funds into the pockets of Nigerians.
“I cannot reverse the removing of subsidies. I’ll as a substitute direct the funds into the pockets of Nigerians, not the elite,” he added.
Amaechi ought to put together for fierce battle
Though it could be too early to foretell the place the pendulum would swing, political analysts say the previous Rivers governor ought to put together for a tricky battle in his bid to clinch the presidential ticket of the opposition ADC.
That is maybe, due to the various sturdy contenders that will jostle for the ADC’s presidential ticket forward 2027.
The coalition and ADC political get together is seen to comprise many energy shrines, energy brokers with sturdy monetary and political strengths which will upstage his presidential ambition if care and correct planning is just not achieved.
Analyst have predicted that with Atiku Abubakar, who’s a daily face within the presidential race and candidate of the PDP in 2023 normal election and Peter Obi, the Labour Get together’s candidate in 2023 amongst others, reminiscent of, Nasir El Rufai not dominated out of the race, the battle shall be fierce.
Though many might argue that it’s nonetheless the flip of southern Nigeria to supply the subsequent president in 2027, political watchers fear that Amaechi might lack the clout, the construction and that the area is extremely fragmented with disjointed political pursuits that would work in opposition to him.
For a lot of, Amaechi should start to construct alliances from the North to assist his presidential bid, which they worry he’s not doing.
“Amaechi is a really clever and fearless individual which I respect, however to turn into the president includes a lot that I don’t know if he’s critical about it.
“To me, he’s not constructing alliances and constructions sufficient, particularly among the many youth. This I say, while you evaluate him with Obi or Atiku, who he’s going to battle the ADC ticket with,” Temitope Musowo, political analyst, mentioned.
How lack of construction, fragmented base, others may restrict Amaechi- Analysts
Whereas Amaechi is a serious drive and issue to look at politically in Nigeria contemplating his pedigree, analysts say his probabilities of choosing the ADC’s presidential ticket and defeating incumbent are slim.
Analysts predict that Amaechi’s lack of sturdy assist base throughout Nigeria may restrict him, whereas his probability of rising president may be dented by an try by the ruling get together to seize the South-South area, which is his base.
There are additionally considerations in regards to the fragmentation throughout the ADC, with every mobilizing assist for his or her principal. As we all know, politics is a recreation of numbers and his supposed assist base is already divided.
The analysts additionally worry that the South-South area’s lack of a unifying issue, being a pluralistic group with completely different languages, cultures and various origins was an obstacle to him.
“On his probabilities of defeating the incumbent, the prospect is slim in view of the on-going fiat to show the politics of the area to a one-party area.
“It’s the will of the South-South to have a presidential candidate, however the area is extremely fragmented with disjointed political pursuits. Ranging from his very state, Rivers, Amaechi has many rivers to cross and robust forces to defeat,” Enoh Usen, a political analyst, instructed BusinessDay.
Equally, Patrick Okohue, a political analyst, instructed BusinessDay, that the Amaechi period has handed, and that he can now not be something politically except he’s appointed.
Okohue identified that his finest probability was 2023, the place he missed it by coming second within the APC main to the incumbent President, noting that since then his relevance has waned.
In line with him, the place is the political construction of Amaechi as we speak, both in Rivers his dwelling state or anyplace else within the nation that he can galvanise to rise to presidency?
“Even when by probability he clinches the presidential ticket of the ADC, which won’t even occur, he’ll solely be a stroll over for President Tinubu.
“So, as a substitute of Amaechi to be losing assets to battle for the presidential seat, what he ought to do is take a look at the political local weather and see which aspirant holds the very best potential and again such a candidate, maybe, if the individual wins, he could possibly return as minister.”
Kunle Okunade, political analyst, mentioned that
Amaechi clinching the ADC’s ticket was not sure from the look of issues, saying that ADC has political bigwigs like Atiku and Obi, who had examined the presidential competitors with good showings.
Okunde argued that apart that, Atiku and Obi have recognised and identifiable fan base that would give the ruling APC a run for his or her cash
“We’ve the Atikulates and the Obidient Motion. Amaechi clinching the presidential ticket of the ADC might not materialise as a result of the truth that he doesn’t have an identifiable fan base,” Okunde mentioned.
Amaechi dominated Rivers State for eight years, after assuming workplace after a Supreme Court docket ruling eliminated Celestine Omehia from workplace in October 2007 after holding workplace for 5 months.
The Supreme Court docket on the time dominated that Omehia had usurped Amaechi’s ticket for the PDP’s gubernatorial ticket and accordingly handed Amaechi the highest job.
