Elder statesman and a former Ambassador to Switzerland, Yahaya Kwande, has said that despite being 90 years old, he'll be like the Simeon of the Bible who didn't die until he saw the Salvation of God with his own. He said the former vice president was clearly the people's choice in the 2019 presidential election, but was denied by a compromised electoral system.
He said even president Muhammadu Buhari has admitted himself, that the process upon which he is now president is faulty and promised to correct it before he leaves
Kwande who made the statement in an interview with Daily Sun, added that despite many capable hands in the country, he prefers an Atiku Presidency because his manisfesto shows he understands what it takes to make Nigeria a country that truly works.
Speaking on the challenges facing the country and his counsel for the president, he said, "The Nigeria Television Authority(NTA) came to me and sought my view on Buhari's promises. I congratulated him but faulted him for not being honest with Nigerians. He (Buhari) accepted that the process upon which he is now president is faulty and he has decided he would correct it before he leaves. I am saying that this is not honesty. If you accept that the process that brought you into the position you are is faulty, you should resign. But the NTA said they would not publish such a thing, so why are you then interviewing me?"
On his advice for the President, he said a president who doesn't listen to advice doesn't need one. He however, expressed his belief in his mentor whom he said has all it takes to turn the fortunes of the country around.
He said, "I belong to the other side. I believe in the wisdom of my mentor. He has a secret to turn Nigeria into Dubai. This is because Alhaji Atiku Abubakar thinks that if one single human being could turn a desert into a place the whole world would admire within a decade or two and with the potentials of Nigeria in human and material resources, he could make our country like Dubai. But Nigerians do not admire God’s gift.
"The reason why others are progressing is because if they identify that you can change a situation to better the people’s lives, they allow you to do it. Wherever and whatever you are, they would admire, encourage and empower you to do it. But in our case, we don’t.
On Atiku's chances at becoming president in 2023, he said, "It appears so apparent that he is the one for 2023. If you look at the politicians, after Buhari, I am telling you there may not even be the APC. Even with the remnants that would remain, it would be so hopeless to go for the presidency of this country.
"Look at the personalities that are in Nigeria; we all know them and you all know us. We all know what we have. You can easily pick Atiku as number one among other people like former governor of Lagos State who are aspiring to be president.
"You go to the East and who do you get apart from those who are talking. You hardly would say this is a politician that is aspiring that is qualified by age, education, experience and so on to rule today’s Nigeria as in the case of Atiku.
"I don’t know whether we are talking about Nigeria or individuals. If we are talking about individuals, Atiku has reached a stage where people would go and beg him please, come and lead us. But that is not the case here. You hardly would have a courageous group of politicians who do that; instead you would have many groups who would work against him."
Asked why Atiku's ambition to lead the country continues to suffer setbacks due to political gang ups against him, he said, "Jealousy is number one.
"This is an orphan who grew up from nowhere to be somebody and you know the class system in Nigeria, particularly the autocrats. There is this system of who is your father. You must belong, particularly in the Northern part of this country, to a group of nobles which he is not."
"He is very generous, kind and very humble; and surprisingly a very intelligent man with a vision to help. You cannot say he is a poor man. Another thing that people are so jealous of him is his love for his own people. Look at his educational institution; he has bottled water, fertilizer and so on. He has always been thinking about people. He is a man of the people and he would always like to maintain that position; and people do not like it."
Asked whether he would still support Atiku presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 election, he responded, "Of course, I will support him. Do you know I am 90 years old? I should tell you the reason why I am still alive.
"God is prolonging my live so that I should be among those that will take Atiku and lead him to Aso villa. Probably, after that I may not be long again but I am waiting for that day. Because of my wishes for Atiku, God is permitting me to still hang on. I will definitely like him to be president and Nigerians would not regret when Atiku becomes their president. If he will do what I had been hearing him talk in a normal conversation, then everybody would be happy. In whatever political party he contests, I have no choice than to support him.
"I am praying so that God will sustain me until I see Atiku in the presidential seat to witness him fulfill what I saw decades ago. I want people to see it. I want people to know the man is honest. You do not have to be dishonest to be rich. God has given out different gifts to people. Look at your fingers, they are not the same. Pray for me too so that I hang around and see Atiku to the villa."